Health Plus - The Principal (Well, Sort Of) Is In

For Immediate Release

The Principal (Well, Sort Of) Is In
Health Plus Joins With PENCIL For The 11th Annual Principal For A Day Event

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NEW YORK, NY - April 19, 2005 — Once again, four Health Plus executives joined thousands of other citizens from all walks of life to participate in the 11th annual “Principal for a Day” event. Community advocate PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement In Learning) hosts this annual day where notable community members assume leading duties at schools throughout the five boroughs.

In early April, Health Plus Executive Director Tom Early played principal at Brooklyn’s P.S. 169 in Sunset Park. Chief marketing Officer Ada Rodriguez stepped in at P.S. 19 in Staten Island, while Community Relations Manager Rolland Garcia and Regional Marketing Manager David Medina filled in at P.S. 110 and 75 in the Bronx, respectively.

The goal of the program is to create long-term strategic partnerships between the business community and public schools, with a focus on improving student achievement. Principal for a Day participants get to see the inside of New York City public schools, as they spend the day observing and directing planned activities. The program has been and continues to be a powerful catalyst for ongoing partnerships between the private sector and the public schools.

“Health Plus values the relationships we have developed with many schools through this program,” says Ada Rodriguez. “Health Plus is committed to furthering academic achievement among our city’s children; we sponsor many events annually towards this end, and PENCIL has afforded us an excellent opportunity to further our efforts. We always look forward to playing principal for a day.”

Community Relations Manager for HP, Rolland Garcia, explains the finer points of poetry with students from P.S. 110 in the Bx. – all part of PENCIL’s Principal for a Day activities.

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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.