Award Presented in Recognition of the Hilfertys’ Countless Community Contributions
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary today announced that Joan P. and Daniel J. Hilferty will be the recipients of the inaugural Saint Charles Borromeo Award, given by the Board of Trustees of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. The award will be presented on April 26, 2018 at the Union League of Philadelphia.
Mr. Hilferty is the president and CEO of Independence Health Group, the parent company of Independence Blue Cross, and Mrs. Hilferty is a committed community volunteer. The award recognizes the couple for their ongoing commitment to build a better community throughout the Philadelphia region.
“Joan and Dan Hilferty have tirelessly given time and energy to enriching our community and offering an outstanding example of servant leadership,” said Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Rector Bishop Timothy C. Senior. “Like Saint Charles Borromeo who, lived a life of service and humility, the Hilfertys embody these same qualities in their own lives.”
“We are honored and humbled to accept this first-ever award from Saint Charles Seminary,” said Mr. and Mrs. Hilferty. “There is no more important work than forming our future leaders and by accepting this award, we hope that even more recognition and attention is given to Saint Charles Seminary and its outstanding seminarians.”
Daniel J. Hilferty is president and chief executive officer of Independence Health Group, the parent company of Independence Blue Cross, one of the nation’s leading health insurers. Since Mr. Hilferty became CEO in 2010, the number of people the company and its affiliates serve has tripled to nearly 8.5 million in 24 states and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hilferty is a sought-after speaker on leadership, transforming health care, and the role of technology and big data. Mr. Hilferty has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and other national media. He is among a select group of nonpartisan health care leaders called upon by government leaders for advice on implementing health care reform.
Mr. Hilferty serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. He also serves on the executive committee of America’s Health Insurance Plans. In addition, Mr. Hilferty is a member of the boards of directors for BCS Financial, an innovation partner for Blue companies; Aqua America; Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia; and FS Investment Corporation III. In 2015, he served as Co-Chair of the Executive Leadership Cabinet of the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015.
Mr. Hilferty earned his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps running a community center in Portland, Oregon. After earning a master’s degree in public administration from American University, he returned to the Philadelphia area.
Joan Hilferty is an educator currently working on literacy with elementary students at Drexel Neumann Academy in Chester, Delaware County. After graduating from Archbishop John Carroll High School, Mrs. Hilferty earned her undergraduate degree in education at Pennsylvania State University.
Early in her career, she worked in the ophthalmology department at Penn Medicine’s Scheie Eye Institute. Mrs. Hilferty devotes significant time to support health care and education through her service on boards, such as the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, and her work at Drexel Neumann.
Mr. and Mrs. Hilferty have five children and one grandchild.
Editor’s Note:
Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has been forming men for priestly service in the Catholic Church for more than 180 years. In August 2017, the seminary reported an overall enrollment of 167 seminarians, an 11% increase over the spring 2017 enrollment and the largest overall enrollment since 2004. Of the 43 new seminarians including one student priest, 11 are seminarians studying for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. With the generosity of many, these young seminarians are able to successfully transform into the compassionate and loyal priests and inspiring leaders of tomorrow’s Church. For more information on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary please visit www.scs.edu.