 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Press Releases
|
Press ReleaseG. Fred DiBona, Jr. Honored with Memorial Nurse ScholarshipPhiladelphia, PA - March 3, 2005 - The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) honored late Independence Blue Cross President & CEO G. Fred DiBona, Jr. at The Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania Gala, held on March 2, 2005. In recognition of Mr. DiBona's efforts to combat the current nursing shortage in our area, and for his support for the Foundation's efforts, the PHEF honored Mr. DiBona with a $5,000 fellowship in his name at each of Pennsylvania's 30 graduate schools of nursing for the next academic year. Said PHEF's Vice Chair, Michael Hershock, "We hope that by obtaining the credentials necessary to teach, each of these 'nurse scholars' will honor the memory of this man who accomplished so much for the benefit of so many." During Mr. DiBona's tenure, IBC worked closely with the PHEF to establish the IBC Nurse Scholars Program, a 3-year, $3 million scholarship initiative to support undergraduate and graduate nursing and nursing education students at accredited area universities and colleges. "Fred was committed to the health of our community, and the establishment of the Nurse Scholars Program showed his commitment to the nursing community in their time of need," said Joseph A. Frick, IBC's President & CEO. "We are delighted that the Foundation chose to honor Fred's memory in such a way." Among the more than 800 in attendance at the Gala were nurses, nursing students and representatives from businesses, hospitals and colleges throughout Pennsylvania. The evening's keynote speaker was Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, First Lady of Pennsylvania and Chair of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing. During her remarks, Judge Rendell congratulated the PHEF on a "fine and fitting tribute to Fred DiBona who did so much for IBC and for nursing throughout our community in Southeastern Pennsylvania." To date, the IBC Nurse Scholars program has awarded nursing scholarships to more than 600 nursing and nursing education students enrolled in 29 area accredited colleges and universities. The initiative is just one of IBC's many Social Mission Programs and part of an ongoing effort to enhance the well-being of our community through subsidized coverage, charitable medical care grants, educational programs and scholarships. Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.5 million people.
|