Pictured left to right: Tony Watlington, Superintendent of School District of Phila; Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, VP of Community Affairs at IBX and president of the IBX Foundation; Kathryn Epps, president and CEO of FUND; Ed Zimmermann, Board Chair of FUND (Photo Credit: Hugh E. Dillon)
Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, vice president of Community Affairs at Independence Blue Cross (IBX) and president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, was recently recognized alongside IBX for their commitment to education and community health.
Marshall-Blake received the Health & Wellness Champion of the Year from The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation on Nov. 21, which celebrated her dedication to advancing health access, literacy, and education across the region.
IBX was named Corporate Champion for Education Excellence by The School District of Philadelphia for its investment in youth education through programs that strengthen communities and prepare students for success. This includes supporting such events as the District’s Back-to-School Bus Tour. Marshall-Blake accepted the award on behalf of IBX on Dec. 9.
“At IBX, we are leaders in caring for our community. We care about doing good and keeping people well … we’ve been doing it for more than 85 years, and look forward to the next 85,” said Marshall-Blake while receiving the Corporate Champion for Education Excellence award.
As president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation for nearly 15 years, associate minister at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, and through her active leadership in numerous civic and professional organizations, Marshall-Blake has been a transformative force in improving health and wellness in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Heather Major (center), executive director of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, accepted the Health & Wellness Champion of the Year award from The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation on Marshall-Blake’s behalf. She’s pictured with Jeffry Benoliel, chair of the Free Library Foundation’s board of directors and Monique Pryer-Moore, President of the Free Library Foundation.