WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) announced today that it has given $20,000 in micro-grants to 18 community-based organizations across Kentucky. These micro-grants will support nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organizations that provide transportation, dental, vision, foster care and adoption support to Kentuckians in need. The micro-grants were given in denominations of $500, $1,000 and $1,500.
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"Community-based organizations have always been vital to supporting the social safety net for the seniors, and low-income children and families that WellCare serves," said Elizabeth Starr, supervisor for WellCare of Kentucky's Community Advocacy team. "These grants focus on making small, yet important changes that can have a significant impact on the communities they serve by helping support the health and wellness of our members, their families and the community at large."
The 2015 Kentucky micro-grants were awarded to the following community-based organizations:
Community-Based Organization
Program Highlights
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Association of Rescue and Intervention of Kentucky (ARIKY)
Bowling Green, Kentucky The grant will provide transportation
to medical appointments for low-
income, non-native English speaking
refugees.
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The grant will allow the nonprofit
organization to collaborate with
community health providers to obtain
needed medical, dental, vision and
mental health services for its
Berea Family Resource/Youth Services Center Berea Independent Schools community families.
Berea, Kentucky
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Boulware Mission, Inc.
Owensboro, Kentucky The grant will provide transportation
for homeless individuals needing
access to social service organizations
and employment opportunities.
www.boulwaremission.org
-----------------------
Care Net Pregnancy Services of Northern Kentucky The grant will provide adoption
services to those facing an unplanned
pregnancy and to those who are not
equipped to best parent a child.
Multiple Locations
www.carenetnky.org
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The grant will expand its Kidsight
Program, which provides eye exams and
glasses, and eye surgery or treatment
for injured, diseased, and
underdeveloped eyesight for needy
Cave Country Lions Club children.
Cave City, Kentucky
www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/cave_country
---
ElderServe, Inc. The grant will provide transportation
to senior centers for seniors with
disabilities or limited access.
Louisville, Kentucky
www.elderserveinc.org
---------------------
Family Enrichment Center
The grant will allow its associates to
receive training at seminars and
conferences to better aid in the
recruitment of foster and adoptive
Bowling Green, Kentucky parents.
www.familyenrichmentcenter.com
------------------------------
Fostering Goodwill The grant will provide appropriate
support and services to foster care
recipients between 18 and 24 years of
age.
Lexington, Kentucky
www.fosteringgoodwill.org
---
Green River District Health Department The grant will provide educational /
interactive models to teach children
the importance of dental hygiene.
Owensboro, Kentucky
www.healthdepartment.org
------------------------
ITNGreaterCincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio The grant will foster awareness of the
need for volunteer drivers to provide
transportation services to seniors and
to the visually impaired.
www.itngreatercincinnati.org
----------------------------
Lawrence County Health Department The grant will improve access to
preventive dental care for students in
Lawrence and Martin counties.
Louisa, Kentucky
www.lawrencecountyhealthdepartment.com
---
Leslie Knott Letcher Perry Community Action Council Inc.
Hazard, Kentucky The grant will provide two Q'Straint
straps to approximately 75 Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) vehicles
for safer, smoother rides.
www.lklp.org
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Maryhurst
The grant will support the
organization's teaching of Risking
Connections Foster Parent module to
its existing foster families and to
new foster families during their pre-
Louisville, Kentucky service training.
www.maryhurst.org
-----------------
Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department
The grant will provide preventive
dental services to the uninsured or
under-insured children of northern
Kentucky by lowering or eliminating
Edgewood, Kentucky the cost for these families.
www.nkyhealth.org
---
Purchase District Health Department -Floss & Gloss: Children's Access to Oral The grant will establish a fund to
Health West Kentucky assist with transportation for low-
income individuals and families to
dental appointments.
Paducah, Kentucky
www.purchasehealth.org
----------------------
St. John Center, Inc. The grant will provide transportation
for homeless individuals needing
access to social service organizations
and employment opportunities.
Louisville, Kentucky
www.stjohncenter.org
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Seven Counties Services, Inc. The grant will provide eyeglasses and/
or dentures to those in need.
Multiple Locations in Kentucky
www.sevencounties.org
---------------------
SmileFaith Foundation The grant will provide low-income
patients access to premium dental and
medical services.
(Appalachian Mountains Office)
Jenkins, Kentucky
www.smilefaith.com
---
"WellCare's micro-grant program in Kentucky is one facet of our commitment to building partnerships with community organizations that offer support in meeting basic social needs, including assistance with food, housing, transportation and dental care," said Pamme Lyons-Taylor, vice president of WellCare's Advocacy and Community Based Programs. "Grants, regardless of size, when awarded at the right time to the right organization, can be exactly what a community-based organization needs to grow in reach and make a difference. By identifying these programs, we have the opportunity to improve health care access and to enhance the health and lives of our members and communities."
"In partnership with local schools, the Northern Kentucky Health Department provides oral health screening, fluoride varnish and dental sealants to local children," stated Linda Poynter, oral health program manager for the Northern Kentucky Health Department. "The program is convenient for families because services are provided during the school day, and with grant support from WellCare and others, costs for families remain low. It is one of many ways the health department is working to reduce the incidence of tooth decay, the most common chronic condition in children. Thank you to WellCare for their continued efforts to help sustain programs such as ours."
"WellCare grant money opens up our opportunities," stated, Mary Nestor, education coordinator for the Association of Rescue and Intervention of Kentucky. "We can travel another 4,348 miles, transporting people to and from their appointments. We can help more than the approximately 30 families who have already benefited. We can replace the missing magnets used to identify ARIKY vehicles. And we can continue to refine our program to meet the needs of newcomers. The grant has reinvigorated our efforts and encouraged us to continue this important work."
As of June 30, 2015, WellCare serves approximately 429,000 Medicaid members, 7,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 21,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi's story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
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. The Company serves approximately 3.8 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2015. 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.
CONTACT:
Charles N. Talbert
770-913-2181
charles.talbert@wellcare.com
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
