Health Plus - Another Winter of New Yorkers Kept Safe From the Cold

For Immediate Release

Another Winter of New Yorkers Kept Safe From the Cold
Health Plus and New York Cares Award Organizations

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

New York NY - March 2, 2007 — This week, another successful year for the New York Cares Coat Drive came to an end, as organizers, city officials, and sponsors came together for the 2007 New York Cares Winter Warmth Awards Ceremony. As presenting sponsor, managed care organization Health Plus was in attendance to show appreciation for those who were instrumental in helping tens of thousands of New Yorkers make it through another cold winter.

Health Plus Chief Marketing Officer Ada Rodriguez and Health Plus Director of Communications and External Affairs Kathryn Soman were on hand to help award the organizations who collected the most coats. The winner, by far, was the NYPD, who collected over 33,000 coats, accounting for 37% of all coats collected citywide. The best youth team was the Horace Mann School, which collected 1,000 coats. The Rookie of the Year Award went to the New York Mets, who collected over 2,000 coats.

“It is a pleasure to be part of this campaign,” said Ada Rodriguez, Health Plus Chief Marketing Officer. “Each year, more and more people participate in helping us to keep underprivileged New Yorkers warm and safe in the winter, and I think that is a beautiful thing. We look forward to being back as Presenting Sponsor of the Coat Drive next year and in the years that follow.”

NY Mets Director of Community Outreach Jill Knee, HP Director of Communications and External Affairs Kathryn Soman, NY Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Officer Rodriguez of the NYPD, Ariel Zwang, Executive Director of NY Cares; and NYPD Officer, Shea.

Ariel Zwang, Executive Director of New York Cares and Health Plus Chief Marketing Officer Ada Rodriguez congratulate Mets Director of Community Outreach Jill Knee (center), at the New York Cares Winter Warmth Awards Ceremony at One Police Plaza.

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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.