Independence Blue Cross (Independence) today launched its 2016 campaign for the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ). Independence's campaign -- Give for a Better Community -- is a celebration of the unique history of our city and Independence's leadership in making our community a better place to live and work. Through the campaign, which runs through September 26, Independence associates will come together to positively impact the community by pledging their financial support and volunteering for a variety of community service projects as part of the Days of Caring initiative.

This year, Daniel J. Hilferty, president and chief executive officer, Independence Blue Cross, will also serve as chair of the UWGPSNJ's 2016-2017 annual fundraising campaign, and Christopher Cashman, former executive vice president and president of commercial markets, Independence Blue Cross, will serve as cochair. They will work with a team of more than 100 executive leader volunteers from the business and nonprofit sectors and communities throughout the region to drive philanthropic efforts and investments that support the United Way's Impact Fund key areas: Education, Financial Stability, Health and Basic Needs.

"I am proud of Independence's role as a leader in community service, and the commitment our associates show every year to the United Way campaign through financial contributions and volunteering," said Hilferty. "We are excited to support the extraordinary work of the United Way which seeks to improve the well-being of millions of people in our community. We look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come."

Over the past five years, Independence associates and their families have contributed more than 6,000 hours of volunteer service to Days of Caring projects since 2011.

On Wednesday, September 21, nearly 200 Independence associate volunteers will lend a hand at the following community sites:

• American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

• AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, Cheltenham, PA

• Cradles to Crayons, West Conshohocken, PA

• Impact Thrift, Montgomeryville, PA

• MANNA, Philadelphia, PA

• Philadelphia Senior Center, Philadelphia, PA

• Project HOME, Philadelphia, PA

• Ronald McDonald House - Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

• SHARE Food Program, Philadelphia, PA

• Turning Points for Children, Philadelphia, PA

On Saturday, September 24, 50 Independence associate volunteers will help complete indoor and outdoor beautification projects for the Days of Caring Signature Site event held at Vare-Washington Middle School at 1198 S. 5th Street in Philadelphia.

Independence's campaign is part of UWGPSNJ's 365 Days of Caring, a year-round effort to achieve collective impact through corporate volunteerism. Leading Independence's employee campaign this year are Terry Booker, vice president Corporate Development and Innovation and Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation and vice president of Community Affairs.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve nearly 8.5 million people in 32 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For nearly 80 years, we have been 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, 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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for over 107 million members - one in three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog for up-to-date information about BCBSA.

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