More Than Just Volunteers: The Blue Crew are Champions of Change

Volunteers painting a mural at a Turning Points for Children center.
Blue Crew volunteers painting a mural at a Turning Points for Children center. When I received a phone call from the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey during the summer of 2016, I didn’t expect it would lead to me ordering a truck containing two cubic yards of topsoil....
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Beyond Giving Back: How Volunteering Can Help Boost Your Career

Michael Allen boxing up food at a volunteer event
If you ask Michael Allen, he will tell you that volunteering is contagious; that’s how he got his start with the Blue Crew and volunteering in 2011. He had just joined Independence Blue Cross when an enthusiastic associate (and passionate Blue Crew member) told him about the company’s volunteer program and encouraged him to sign up....
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Honoring America’s Heroes at the Medal of Honor Grove

Blue Crew volunteers sprucing up the grounds at the Medal of Honor Grove
Blue Crew volunteers helping to spruce up the Medal of Honor Grove. There are approximately 30 million military veterans in the United States, and that number keeps growing every day! The IVets, Independence Blue Cross’s associate resource group for veterans, includes many men and women who have served on behalf of American citizens....
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Veterans in the Workplace: The Power of Support

Melanie Martin and I-Ride participants
Melanie Martin (center) and I-Ride participants. After graduating college, I took a job as a retail store manager, but I quickly realized that I was looking for something more. While it was fun, it didn’t bring me the joy and feeling of accomplishment that I wanted. One day I heard the “Be All You Can Be” slogan on a radio advertisement for the U.S....
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Volunteers Play a Pivotal Role During Races

Heather Falck and others at a recent Blue Cross Broad Street Run. As an associate at Independence Blue Cross and a lifelong runner, I’m fortunate to have unique opportunities to join the Independence Blue Streaks running club and volunteer with the Independence Blue Crew. If I’m not running a race, I try to be a race volunteer....
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Coming Together by Volunteering as a Family at The Kidney Walk

Briana and the Cunninghams, posing while volunteering at the Kidney Walk.
Briana and her family pose for a picture with Rocky Bluewinkle while volunteering at the Wilmington Kidney Walk hosted by the National Kidney Foundation Growing up, my family taught me the importance of giving back, and it always stuck with me. So, when I started working at Independence Blue Cross last February,...
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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....
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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....
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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,...
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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....
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