For the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, an affiliate Member of the Satell Institute, COVID-19 has been an opportunity to do even more to benefit the community. The IBC Foundation, led by Lorina Marshall-Blake since its establishment in October 2011, is recognized as a national thought leader and has supported Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by accelerating more than $2.4 million in grants to nearly 50 community health centers and providing support to health and human services nonprofits during the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly not something we can solve overnight,” said Lorina Marshall-Blake, President of the IBC Foundation. “We are addressing it head on, like we have many other of our nation’s worst health problems, such as the opioid epidemic.”
Marshall-Blake is well aware of the importance of CSR programs and serves as an active board member of the Satell Institute (SI) – a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that facilitates high-impact, philanthropic CSR through a two-tiered approach. SI’s Think Tank provides commissioned research, educational opportunities and global resources to help businesses make the most of their CSR initiatives. And its Do Tank, which is made up of businesses and foundations, provides CEOs with the opportunity to share ideas on CSR with each other. To become an SI Member, a company must commit to at least one partnership with a nonprofit that includes a $25,000-per-year donation for each of four years.
The Satell Institute also stepped up to address the pandemic. During its idea sharing 6th Private CEO Conference in October 2020, SI Members focused on how CEOs can adjust to the economic devastation brought on by the pandemic and support the long-term recovery of their organizations and their communities. This theme was reinforced at the SI’s Nonprofit-Business Leadership Summit in November 2020, again spotlighting strategies for recovery, including a meaningful and impactful exchange of ideas between them and the businesses whose leaders participate.
“This commitment to idea sharing and ensuring that the perspectives of our nonprofit partners are part of the conversation speaks to the values and approach of the Satell Institute,” Marshall-Blake said. “They’re not there because they have to be there,” Marshall-Blake said of the Institute’s business Members. “They’re there because they want to be there. They realize that it’s important to be in business, but it’s also important to be in the business of helping when you have the opportunity to help.”
Marshall-Blake said the IBC Foundation’s membership in the Satell Institute has allowed her to meet many of the region’s CEOs, be inspired by their companies’ CSR efforts, and share the Foundation’s history with them.
The Satell Institute Continues to
Welcome New Members
Membership at the Satell Institute continues to grow with great companies and private business donors and foundations choosing to support CSR locally with initiatives of their choice. We celebrate two new Members and their Nonprofit Affiliates – both terrific Philadelphia institutions!
Michael Kelly Philanthropies and Ronald McDonald House Charities®
We’d like to give a warm welcome to major local philanthropist and angel investor Michael Kelly. The nonprofit partner he selected to support through the Satell Institute at well over the minimum requirement of $25,000 annually for 4 years is Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Philadelphia Region.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of the Philadelphia Region supports families of seriously ill children by creating a community of comfort and hope. In times of crisis, this support is invaluable. Their programs provide temporary lodging, transportation, meals, and social services to families who travel to Philadelphia for pediatric care and extend the support into the hospital setting – offering a quiet respite space for families at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – and provide comprehensive and continuous oral healthcare to children in North Philadelphia.
Golf Genius Software and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
We’re also proud to welcome Michael D. Zisman, CEO of Golf Genius Software. With an unrivaled set of features, innovative technology, and outstanding support, Golf Genius powers golf tournament management at clubs and resorts in 58 countries worldwide.
Golf Genius Software chose to support the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts — the second largest performing arts and education center in the country (after Lincoln Center in New York City) which works diligently to engage the region’s diverse communities. The Kimmel Cultural Campus, located in Center City Philadelphia, serves as an inclusive and preeminent place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the creative spirit of the Philadelphia region. Normally active gathering spaces for social and community events, the venues include the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater. During the pandemic, the Kimmel Center is working with schools to provide virtual cultural opportunities.