Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House: Serving Comfort, Hope, and Nourishment

Blue Crew volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House
Members of the Blue Crew, volunteering at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House A home-cooked meal can provide comfort to anyone facing a stressful situation. For a family with a seriously ill child, it can be a lifesaver. As the Director of Marketing & Communications at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, I have seen how a good home-cooked meal can light up the faces of these families during difficult times....
Read More

Volunteering is the Ultimate Team Builder

A group of Independence Blue Cross Blue Crew volunteers
Members of the Independence Blue Cross Blue Crew, volunteering at Saint John’s Hospice. One of the things I love most about working at Independence Blue Cross is our company’s culture of giving back to the community. So when the Human Resources division was looking for a team-building opportunity, I suggested volunteering together — it’s the ultimate team builder....
Read More

Strengthening Family Bonds Through Volunteering

Deanne Riley-Giddins and her daughter, painting at a volunteer event
Deanne Riley-Giddins (right) and her daughter, painting a mural at Kensington High School during the Martin Luther King Day of Service. Over the last few years, I discovered that one of my favorite things to do is volunteer. My journey as a volunteer started with the Blue Crew in 2016. At first,...
Read More

Be a Superhero: It’s in Your Blood

A young woman donating blood
We don’t often get a chance to save another person’s life but considering that donating just one pint of blood can save up to three lives — maybe we do. Imagine that. Saving someone’s life without having to run into a burning building, do CPR, or perform the Heimlich maneuver. All you have to do is donate blood....
Read More

Volunteering is Awesome: Pass It on to Others

A group of volunteers at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore
For me, MLK Day is not just a holiday to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., it is also a reminder to us all that serving our community is the best gift that we can give to those in need. In honor of MLK Day, I challenge everyone to take some time to give back to their community — volunteering is such a rewarding experience....
Read More

Give Back This New Year: How Volunteerism Has Made a Difference in My Life

My Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Little, Jordyn, shares a few smiles and laughs with me at our 2018 end-of-year celebration. For the past six years, I have developed a passion for giving back to the community. I believe it’s a great way to bring people together. That’s why I wanted to share my experiences with a few organizations that mean so much to me....
Read More

Mentoring Matters: Setting Up Youth for Success

A woman from the Blue Crew reads to a young girl.
January is National Mentoring Month, which recognizes the importance of mentoring youth to help them reach their potential. It is also an opportunity to celebrate volunteer mentors and mentees, each of whom invest significant time and effort to cultivate meaningful relationships. Our Blue Crew volunteers have embraced one-on-one mentoring as a means of making a positive impact in the lives of young people and the community at large....
Read More

Get in the Holiday Spirit: Philadelphia Holiday Attractions

People enjoying Philadelphia holiday attractions- the RiverRink, the Deck the Hall light show at Dilworth Park, a family enjoying a cozy fire
Pictured Philadelphia holiday attractions include Blue Cross RiverRink ice skaters and warming cabins and the Deck The Hall Light Show. Philadelphia is a world-class city with so much to offer year-round, but in my opinion, there’s no better time to explore the downtown than during the holiday season. My husband and I started an annual tradition of bringing our three children into downtown Philadelphia during the holiday season to enjoy all that it has to offer....
Read More

Building Bonds Through Volunteering at St. Johns Hospice

Aaron Lewis (second from the left) with members of MMG serve up good food and smiles at St. John’s Hospice. As a community outreach leader for the Multicultural Men’s Group (MMG), an Independence Blue Cross associate resource group, I’m always looking for opportunities for our members to make a collective impact in the community....
Read More

Independence Blue Cross and Mercer Join Forces to Prevent Opioid Misuse and Abuse

Nurse examining a pill bottle
It’s hard to follow the news today without reading an article about the opioid epidemic. It truly is a crisis — one that Independence Blue Cross is committed to preventing and treating any way we can. That’s why when Mercer recently approached us and asked if we’d join forces with them to help one of our shared,...
Read More