Pictured left to right: Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony Watlington, President Lorina Marshall-Blake, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney at the launch event for the 2022 Back to School Tour.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) President Lorina Marshall-Blake joined Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony Watlington and Mayor Jim Kenney at the Northeast High School Sports Complex on August 5 to promote the District’s Back-to-School Tour.
Funded in part by the Foundation, the Tour will provide critical back-to-school information, free school supplies, and other student and family services, including free required childhood immunizations. The Foundation’s support underscores its focus on promoting greater health equity in our region, especially for youth in vulnerable parts in the city. The Foundation supported the first Tour in 2021.
Also onsite was the Eagles Eye Mobile, a long-time Foundation grant recipient, which has visited approximately 120 schools across the Greater Philadelphia area since 1996. The program provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses accessible to under-insured and uninsured children.
Thanks to everyone involved in this program, helping children and families get ready for a new school year. Thanks Independence Blue Cross Foundation for being a sponsor.
It was a sweet day for all those involved. Welcome Back to School, teachers start Wednesday and children on Monday. Also the Office of Children and Families (OCF) provided an update on Out-of-School Time (OST) and other programming in advance of the return to school.
To help the community prepare for a successful return to full, in-person learning on August 31, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) jointly announced with the School District of Philadelphia the first-ever Back-to-School Bus Tour last Friday at the School District location on Broad Street.
The Tour, which is funded by the Foundation, will provide critical back-to-school information and services to students and families, including free required childhood immunizations.
Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D. Superintendent, SDP and Lorina Marshall Blake, President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation standing inside The School District of Philadelphia Welcome Back Bus.
Stephen Fera is executive vice president of public affairs at Independence Blue Cross, Sheila Hess, City Rep and Mayor Jim Kenney
Kicking off on August 9 at the Jardel Recreation Center, the specially-wrapped buses will visit 31 neighborhoods through August 27.
At each stop, students and families will have an opportunity to meet with School District of Philadelphia Street Team Ambassadors who will share details for pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade registration and assist with signing up for the Parent Portal. Students will also be able to receive a free backpack and school supplies.
What’s in the bag, lip balm, a water bottle, hand sanitizer and info on school policies as well as vaccinations needed to attend school, which were being administered for free, plus physicals to play athletics. A complete list of the Back-to-School Bus Tour stops and the latest back-to-school updates can be found at philasd.org/ringthebell.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) is a private, corporate charitable foundation that was established in 2011 with a mission to lead sustainable solutions that improve the health and well-being of the community. The Foundation has awarded more than $48M in grants to nonprofits and academic institutions in the southeastern Pennsylvania region whose programs and services address access to care, the health care workforce, and nonprofit sustainability.
Teal Butterfly is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer by educating the public through community events and social media campaigns
