Health Plus - Celebrating Hurricanes In Brooklyn

For Immediate Release

Celebrating Hurricanes In Brooklyn
Health Plus Softball Team Promotes Community Pride

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Customer Inquiries: Marketing Department (888) 809-8009

Brooklyn, NY - December 10, 2003 — In 1999 when Hurricane Floyd hit Brooklyn, nobody cheered. So, why did the Sunset Park and Health Plus communities recently find themselves cheering hurricanes? Because it was a different variety of hurricane...their home softball team.

Medicaid managed care organization Health Plus's Corporate Softball team, "The Hurricanes", recently rented out the Brooklyn Indoor Sports Center in their home neighborhood of Sunset Park, to celebrate winning the Brooklyn South West League Softball Championship. This past autumn, the team defeated the Barracudas of Staten Island, 12-1, for the title.

Five years ago, Health Plus's Telemarketing Supervisor, Luis Ramos, decided it was time for Health Plus, provider of free and affordable healthcare, to step up to the plate, literally. He thought that by competing against other corporate softball teams in the community, Health Plus would get the chance to showcase how large the company had grown and, at the same time, bring pride to Sunset Park. And, thus, he formed the corporate softball team that would later bring bragging rights to his company and neighborhood.

"Back in 1998, after seeing Health Plus grow tremendously, I felt it was time to get a softball team together to represent us and show that we are becoming a major player in the healthcare industry," says Ramos, who is still the Hurricane's general manager. "Health Plus is proud of our success, and we wanted to build a team that would share our dedication to teamwork and community pride."

The 2003 season saw the Hurricanes more than realize Ramos's dream. The team had an impressive record of 24 wins and four losses. And their MVPs, as chosen by the team - Miguel Jaquez (centerfield), Wilson Taveras (pitcher), and Julio Brea (first base) - had awesome stats for the season. Jaquez was 15 for 16; Taveras was 5 and 1; and Brea had several stunning game-winning hits.

"We are proud that we won this year because it was a real challenge," says Ramos. "We played against some really terrific teams, and that is why it is such an honor to take home the title."

Luis Ramos, General Manager for the Hurricanes, presents the MVP award to Hurricanes' pitcher Wilson Taveras, who had a 5 and 1 record this season

Health Plus's corporate softball team, the Hurricanes, displays their winning trophies

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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.