TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health
Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) announced today that it has given
$5,000 in micro-grants to five
community-based nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organizations that address
homelessness and physical and mental illness and provide services
to empower low-income individuals and families in Kansas. The
micro-grants were given in denominations of $1,000.
"In order to support the best health outcomes possible, medical
and social needs must be met," said Danny Maxson, a senior manager of advocacy
development at WellCare. "These micro-grants will help to sustain
Kansas' social safety net, which
is critical to ensuring that people get the resources and services
they need to get and stay healthy."
WellCare micro-grants were awarded to the following
agencies:
|
Community-Based
Organization
|
Program
Highlights
|
|
Wichita Public
Schools
Wichita,
Kansas
http://www.usd259.org/
|
The grant supports
"Magical Connections" by the McKinney-Vento program, which helps
more than 1,200 homeless children in the district and their
families connect to services to assist them with employment,
health, and other resources.
|
|
Avenue of
Life
Kansas City,
Kansas
http://www.avenueoflife.org/
|
Avenue of Life
mobilizes the community to equip and empower low-income individuals
and families to be self-sustained and independent. It operates an
equipping center in Kansas City that provides a range of programs
and services designed to meet the emotional, mental, physical and
spiritual needs of families throughout the urban core of Kansas
City.
|
|
Community Action
Program, Inc.
Topeka,
Kansas
http://www.wefightpoverty.org/
|
The Community Action
Program carries out its anti-poverty mission by providing resources
that help families and communities. Examples of support include a
food program for in-home childcare providers, housing support and
weatherization assistance to help families reduce utility
costs.
|
|
Developmental
Services of Northwest Kansas
Hays,
Kansas
https://www.dsnwk.org
|
Developmental
Services of Northwest Kansas partners with communities to remove
barriers for those with physical or development disabilities. It
assists clients and their families to locate available resources
and services, and offers its own unique services such as
day-service programs and employment training and
placement.
|
|
Central Kansas
Dream Center
Great Bend,
Kansas
http://www.centralksdreamcenter.org/
|
The Dream Center
provides human services that address immediate and long-term needs
in the areas of homelessness, hunger relief, life-controlling
issues and education. Among other programs, it operates the Hungry
Heart Soup Kitchen and the Daniel R. Trickey Life Giving Center, a
transitional housing shelter for women.
|
"The McKinney-Vento program was excited to host its first
resource fair for families with children in Wichita Public Schools and is thankful for
WellCare's support," said Cynthia
Martinez, McKinney-Vento liaison. "The Magical Connections
resource fair hosted vendors, activities, clothing and other
giveaway items for children and young people who are homeless or
living in hotels or motels."
"Thanks to the generosity of WellCare, Avenue of Life will be
able to provide transformative wrap-around services for more than
250 homeless families living in the urban core of Kansas City," said Desiree Monize, executive director, Avenue of
Life.
"With WellCare's support, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas will be able to launch a
therapy program for individuals with both dementia and intellectual
and developmental disabilities," said Gerard L. Michaud, president and CEO of
Developmental Services of Northwest
Kansas. "We want to thank WellCare for helping us to enhance
the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental
disabilities in rural Kansas."
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in
Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health
Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing
government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through
Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans,
to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical
needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.8 million members
nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2016. For
more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website
at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at
https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.