PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is a leading supporter of WorkReady Philadelphia with a record number of summer interns in 2013. This year, IBC hired 40 high school interns, increasing its commitment from 30 interns in 2012 and boosting work experience opportunities for young people in Philadelphia. The six-week paid summer internships began at IBC on July 1.
IBC is partnering with WorkReady Philadelphia, a program managed by the Philadelphia Youth Network, to help the City of Philadelphia meet Mayor Nutter's 10,000 Summer Jobs Challenge for 2013. IBC has provided 369 student internships and professional development opportunities since WorkReady Philadelphia was founded in 2003.
"We are committed to creating new opportunities for students to grow, learn, succeed, and graduate high school," said John Clayton, IBC's manager of division, inclusion, and workforce initiatives. "We're pleased to increase the number of high school student internships this year and help change the game for young people in our community."
IBC also hired 102 college interns, its largest internship class, for the annual ten-week College Intern Program that began on June 3. The paid internships give practical training to college students in their areas of concentration and support IBC business areas.
About Independence Blue Cross
Proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2013, Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania serving more than seven million people nationwide, including 2.2 million in the region. We are enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.