Health Plus - With a Little Help from Their Friends<nowrap>...</nowrap>

For Immediate Release

With a Little Help from Their Friends...
Health Plus Hosts Easter Egg Hunt for Staten Island Children

Media Inquiries:Kathryn Soman (718) 491-7493
Customer Inquiries: Marketing Department (888) 809-8009

Staten Island, NY - March 23, 2005 — As part of their ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of New York City’s children, on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, managed care organization Health Plus hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt and celebration at the Cromwell Center on Staten Island. Nearly 1000 children and parents attended the event, which featured arts & crafts, face painting, cotton candy, Easter egg coloring and, of course, a traditional Easter egg hunt.

Health Plus partnered with the 120th Precinct Community Council and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to make this event a great success.

“Health Plus is always thrilled to bring these holiday celebrations directly to children and families,” says Staten Island Supervisor for Health Plus, Josephine Marino. “And partnering with Parks & Recreation and the 120th Precinct Community Council,” continues the former police officer, “is a joy. Working together with these wonderful groups to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our communities is what Health Plus is all about.”

Josephine Marino clutches her basket of eggs, as Max Luna and Hommy Pena, Special Events Coordinators for Health Plus, share the delight that the Easter Bunny and Shrek bring to children.

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.