The IBC Foundation devoted more than $5 million to community health initiatives
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) associates are giving back to the communities where they live and work by volunteering over 8,000 hours to more than 240 projects in 2016. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation, a charitable, private foundation, awarded grants exceeding $5 million in southeastern Pennsylvania during 2016.
Independence has a nearly 80-year history of investing time and resources toward improving lives and building healthier communities. This commitment was illustrated in 2016 by more than 1,000 Blue Crew volunteers who participated in 243 projects totaling 8,334 hours throughout our region. Projects involved Philadelphia Reads, MANNA, Share Food Program, Ronald McDonald Houses, and programs that benefit the Isaac A. Sheppard School. On top of that, the Independence Blue Crew organized 24 collections and drives at Independence office locations throughout the year, raising more than $17,000 for nonprofits.
Independence associates also supported the true meaning of the company’s United Way campaign theme: Give for a Better Community. More than 3,400 associates donated to the campaign and approximately 225 associates volunteered more than 1,200 hours at 11 different service projects throughout the region.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $5 million to more than 100 nonprofit organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania:
- Increasing access to quality, affordable care in medically underserved areas through funding of more than 40 private, nonprofit community health centers;
- Bolstering the health care workforce by advancing nursing education and leadership, including scholarships to 21 area nursing schools to support undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing students/
- Building healthier communities through funding to 38 community organizations that positively impact the health and well-being of veterans, youth, seniors, women, and homeless individuals; and
- Addressing health priorities through the support of Healthy Hearts, which aims to increase the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest and address disparities in cardiovascular health in underserved populations across southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Foundation recently released its annual community report: Building the Future of Community Health.