Independence Blue Cross president and CEO Gregory E. Deavens was recently honored by the Greater Philadelphia YMCA at its annual Y Honors event held at the Union League. Y Honors recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in their community — not only bettering themselves and their organizations — but also making significant contributions to improving the quality of life in the Delaware Valley. Ann Baiada and J. Mark Baiada of Bayada Home Health Care and Heyward Donigan, president and CEO of Rite Aid, were also honored.
In his acceptance remarks, Deavens spoke about Independence’s partnership with the Y on its Healthy Living initiative.
“For our company, healthy living has meant helping our members and communities navigate the unprecedented events of a global pandemic that has spanned more than two years. It means integrating mental health care and physical health care to achieve what we call ‘equitable, whole-person health,’” said Deavens.
“It means working with our fellow Blue plans across the nation to reduce the unacceptable racial and economic inequities in health care that have been highlighted by COVID-19,” he continued. “And it means supporting and celebrating organizations like the Y that make a real, boots-on-the-ground impact on the health of communities.”
The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits. It strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, its serves more than 180,000 members and 240,000 individuals a year- regardless of age, income, or background.