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Press Release

Independence Blue Cross Honors Martin Luther King Jr. With Day Of Service

Philadelphia, PA - January 13, 2006 - Nearly 100 members of Independence Blue Cross's corporate volunteer program, the Blue Crew, will join tens of thousands of other volunteers on January 16 to celebrate the 11th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service by working on service projects in the city.

The Blue Crew volunteers from Independence Blue Cross (IBC), a sponsor of the 2006 Day of Service, will work at the National Constitution Center, the Frederick Douglass School and the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

"Independence Blue Cross is deeply dedicated to upholding the principles espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr. and to strengthening our community," said Joseph A. Frick, IBC President and CEO. "I'm pleased that so many of our associates in the Blue Crew are honoring Dr. King's legacy by enthusiastically supporting the day of service."

"The Blue Crew embodies IBC's commitment to building healthier lives and communities," he added. "Our company's biggest asset is our associates who reach out every day to help our customers here at IBC and reach out to enrich communities through their volunteer work."

At the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, IBC's Blue Crew will:

  • Collect coats, blankets, canned goods and other items donated to the homeless at Stenton Family Manor in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia
  • Stitch together donated fabric to sew blankets for the homeless at Stenton
  • Organize craft activities for kids
  • Assist at the "talk back" station in the lobby, where visitors can read and reflect on Dr. King's principles and post their responses on a feedback wall
  • Register donors for the Red Cross blood drive
  • Usher two concerts by folk duo "Two of a Kind." The concert will take place in the Kirby Auditorium at the National Constitution Center.

At the Frederick Douglass School, 2118 W. Norris Street in Philadelphia, and at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, 1400 W. Olney in Philadelphia, IBC's Blue Crew will clean, paint and make improvements in classrooms.

The Martin Luther King Day of Service celebrates Dr. King by transforming the federal holiday into a day of active citizenship. The Blue Crew are among the 50,000 volunteers in the region who are taking part in over 600 service projects to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Philadelphia is expected to have the largest event in the nation for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For more than 65 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered quality health care products and services tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, groups and providers.

Independence Blue Cross recently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO and PPO health care plans. In addition, in 2005, Independence Blue Cross's Personal Choice was rated the No. 1 PPO in the nation and its Keystone HMO was ranked the No. 1 HMO in the region by health care consumers in a leading independent consumer magazine.