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For Immediate Release

Health Plus Sponsors Project A+ Plus
Program Rewards 1,720 Students For Good Grades

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New York, NY - July 15, 2003 — Medicaid managed care organization, Health Plus, rewarded 1,720 of its most promising members throughout the five boroughs at Project A+ Plus, a week-long student reward program.
 
From July 7th to the 11th, first-to-eighth-grade students, who earned an overall average of B+ or higher in their classes this year, and who receive health insurance through Health Plus, were awarded TOYS R US gift certificates, "goody bags," (containing a t-shirt, calculator, and Frisbee), from the organization, as well as children's books, donated by publisher Santillana USA. The students, ages six through 12, presented their report cards and received their gifts at Health Plus community-based locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens, and at State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat's office in Manhattan.
 
"Health Plus fosters all aspects of wellness in the communities we serve, particularly education," says School Based Program Coordinator for Health Plus, Priscilla Galarza. "By recognizing and rewarding academic achievers, Health Plus is encouraging all students to study hard."
 
Since Project A+ began in 1991, Health Plus has rewarded over 9,000 students who received good grades. The project's objective is to encourage students to recognize the value of school and the long-term benefits of securing good grades.
 
"Santillana USA," says Steve Marban, Vice President at SANTILLANA USA, "the world's leading publisher of children's literature and educational materials in the Spanish language, is committed to supporting language learning in both English and Spanish, and for this reason we're pleased and honored to participate in Project A+ by donating books. Around the globe, millions of children benefit from and enjoy our publications and the underprivileged children of New York should be no exception."
 
Marban also states Santillana USA is dedicated to supporting literacy in New York and understands that reading plays a fundamental role in personal and social development in today's world. "We're happy to have the chance to cooperate with Health Plus to help prepare our children for tomorrow's challenges and opportunities through reading development."


Two children display their Project A+ certificates at one of Health Plus's Brooklyn offices

Health Plus's Yvonne Rilley-Tepie and Priscillia Galarza stand with Santillana's Jaime Hernandez and Antonio Azevedo behind some of this year's project A+ achievers

A+ students show off their Project A+ certificate in Queens

A Bronx girl proudly poses with their Project A+ certificates at Health Plus's office

Two girls proudly pose with their Project A+ certificates at Health Plus's Staten Island office

Health Plus's Daniel Campbell stands with a young Project A+ participant and State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat who hosted the program in his Manhattan office

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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.