PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Independence Blue Cross Foundation received one of the highest honors from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Philadelphia Chapter (AFP-GPC), an award for Outstanding Corporate Foundation at the 29th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Gala held today at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel. Specifically, the AFP-GPC recognized the Foundation for its contributions to improving child wellness in southeastern Pennsylvania and for its leadership role in convening national stakeholders to explore solutions to the growing childhood obesity epidemic.
In addition to the ground-breaking work the Foundation has done to improve child wellness, it has also invested more than $5.4 million to date in 2014 in leading solutions for a healthier community in four primary areas: increasing access to quality, affordable care in medically underserved areas; bolstering the health care workforce; improving children's health; and building healthier communities.
Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals has inspired global change and supported efforts that generated over $1 trillion. AFP's nearly 30,000 individual and organizational members raise over $100 billion annually.
"We are honored and delighted to receive this award and are fortunate to work with so many exceptional partners committed to improving the lives of adults and children in our community," said Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. "The needs of our community are great, but so are the hearts and commitment of all the organizations we partner with every day. Their tireless efforts to make life better for others is what we honor today."
"The partnership between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation has been an incredible opportunity to align mission and resources to improve children's health by combatting childhood obesity. We commend the Foundation's vision, and the positive impact their Healthy Futures Initiative has already had on the community," said Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) chief executive officer Dr. Steven Altschuler, whose organization nominated the Independence Blue Cross Foundation for the award.
CHOP was one of the first organizations to become a partner in the Foundation's Healthy Future's Initiative, a three-year, nearly $3 million comprehensive, collaborative approach to combating obesity and improving child wellness in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Launched in August 2013, Healthy Futures offers programming in 25 regional schools, directly impacting more than 1,000 students and their families. As part of the "Stay Well" component of Healthy Futures, a CHOP nurse visits schools to record child wellness metrics, improve school health screening rates, and ensure all students are given resources to maintain good health.
About the Independence Blue Cross Foundation
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is a charitable, private foundation, whose mission is leading solutions for a healthier community. The Foundation targets the following areas of impact:
- Securing the Blue Safety Net: Supporting private, nonprofit community health center clinics that provide access to quality, affordable healthcare in medically underserved areas.
- Bolstering the Health Care Workforce: Strengthening the nursing, primary care, and allied health workforce through education, career development, and research.
- Addressing Health Priorities: Collaborating with wellness partners to tackle the region's most pressing health challenges; currently combating the obesity epidemic through the IBC Foundation Healthy Futures Initiative.
- Building Healthy Communities: Partnering with community leaders and programs to address community health and wellness needs.
Learn more by visiting our website: www.ibxfoundation.org. Connect with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation on Twitter and Instagram at @ibxfdn.
About the Association of Fundraising Professionals: The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 members in 235 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. www.afpgpc.org
About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program receives the highest amount of National Institutes of Health funding among all U.S. children's hospitals. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.