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Press Release

IBC and Anti-Defamation League Jointly Sponsor School Assembly to Address Issues of Student Hatred and Discrimination

Philadelphia, PA - April 20, 2007 - Independence Blue Cross and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Philadelphia will host a special assembly today at the Ludlow Elementary School in Philadelphia aimed at helping students understand and respond to discrimination and hatred.

The assembly, which will be held from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., is the first event in a series of programs jointly created and hosted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Independence Blue Cross through the ADL’s No Place For Hate® program. The goal of No Place For Hate® is to organize communities to develop projects that enhance the appreciation of diversity and foster harmony.

At the Ludlow assembly, students will hear about the No Place For Hate® mission, watch a video that deals with bigotry and discrimination issues, and recite the No Place For Hate® promise. In the morning, representatives from the IBC Blue Crew, the company’s corporate volunteer program, will help the students beautify their school yard and install furniture on a newly created “Peace Patio.”

“We are pleased to support the ADL and participate in a program that can make such a substantial difference in the lives of our nation’s most important asset—our youth,” said Joseph A. Frick, President and CEO of Independence Blue Cross, and the inaugural Chair of the ADL Corporate Partnership. “This program is special because it provides students with community coaches and role models that reinforce the concepts ADL teaches, and which students will hopefully carry with them throughout their lives.”

IBC becomes ADL’s first Corporate Partner
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is the first community business to contribute to the ADL’s Corporate Partnership program. In addition to supporting the larger mission of the ADL to challenge prejudice and intolerance, the newly-created program encourages local businesses to “adopt” schools that participate in the No Place For Hate® program.

Through the program, employees of partnering companies attend No Place For Hate® events, such as the one being held today at Ludlow, to promote mutual respect and empathy, and to begin a long-term dialogue with students to reduce bullying and name-calling. In addition to adopting Ludlow Elementary School, IBC has adopted Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

“We thank Joe Frick and Independence Blue Cross for their generous support of the ADL and the No Place For Hate® program,” said Barry Morrison, Regional Director for the Philadelphia ADL. “We especially applaud IBC’s Blue Crew for their volunteer efforts and for the excitement and professionalism we know they will bring to all the planned school activities this year.”

School Events Recognizing No Place for Hate® Day on May 1 On May 1, several No Place for Hate® schools and communities throughout the region will host events commemorating the second annual No Place For Hate® Day, as declared by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a resolution passed on April 17, 2007. ADL events on that day include:

  • A workshop on cyberbullying and hate on the internet at Colonial Middle School in Montgomery County for parents and educators from around the region.
  • The presentation of the official No Place for Hate® Day Resolution in Bensalem Township by State Representative Gene DiGirolamo.

In addition, IBC’s Blue Crew volunteers will participate in programs at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and Ludlow Elementary School to commemorate the day.

About the Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is one of the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agencies fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, protecting democratic ideals and civil rights for all.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.