Health Plus - Cinco de Mayo Festivals Make Merry Throughout City

For Immediate Release

Cinco de Mayo Festivals Make Merry Throughout City
Mexican Community Celebrates Historic Date

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

New York, NY - May 4, 2004 — Health Plus, the Medicaid managed care provider, sponsored two separate Cinco de Mayo Festivals last Sunday, in recognition of Mexico's great national holiday.

Thousands of enthused attendees, at both the Queens and Manhattan events, celebrated the famous date that commemorates the 1862 victory by Mexican forces over the French army.

At the Queens event at Flushing Meadow Park, Mexican pop-stars, including Jennifer Pena and soap-star turned singer, Marianna, performed their hits to dancing audiences. Additionally, the Health Plus staff held contests and gave away prizes to many children. The uptown Manhattan event also had live musical performances, a street fair, and giveaways from the managed care organization.

"We are always happy to sponsor our communities during times of celebration, because it fosters goodwill and brings people together for a fun time," says Health Plus's Marketing Manager Manny Quezada. "Festivals such as these also promote community pride."

Mexican soap-star turned pop-star, Marianna, wows the crowd while headlining this year's Cinco de Mayo concert at Flushing Meadow.

Grand Marshall for Cinco de Mayo, Councilman Hiram Monserrate, stands with Health Plus's Marketing Manager Manny Quezada.

Health Plus Marketing Manager, Manny Quezada cheers with several Cinco de Mayo revelers dressed in the Mexican flag's colors.

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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.