On Tuesday, February 2, Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of Independence Blue Cross Foundation, visited Mary Howard Health Center to present its staff and patients with a check to support the Center’s work for $50,000 as part of the foundation’s Blue Safety Net program. The initiative supports nonprofit privately-funded health clinics in medically underserved communities in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Mary Howard Health Center opened in Center City in 1997, recognizing a crucial need for comprehensive primary care, including behavioral health and social support services, for people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Named after a woman known for her vibrant personality who died due to health conditions exacerbated by homelessness, Mary Howard Health Center currently serves 2,100 patients and receives 7,000 visits each year.