Health Plus - Spreading Holiday Cheer...

For Immediate Release

Spreading Holiday Cheer...
Health Plus Hosts Easter Egg Hunts & Parties for NYC Children

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

Staten Island, NY - April 17, 2006 — As part of their ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of New York City’s children, managed care organization Health Plus hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt and celebrations at locations throughout the five boroughs, including Snug Harbor on Staten Island, delighting thousands of young New Yorkers. Over 1000 children and parents attended the Snug Harbor event alone on Saturday, April 15, which featured arts & crafts, free face painting, cotton candy, snow cones, Easter egg coloring and, of course, a traditional Easter egg hunt.

Health Plus partnered with the Assemblyman Matthew Mirones, Staten Island Children’s Museum, FDNY, NYPD, New York Rangers, Hometown Buffet, and Staten Island Yankees to make this event a great success.

Additional Health Plus-sponsored events were held at the Sunset Park Recreation Center and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, with Assemblyman Jose Peralta in Queens and Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat in upper Manhattan. The y also participated in the enormous “Easter Eggstravaganza” in Central Park.

“Health Plus is always thrilled to bring these holiday celebrations directly to children and families,” says Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus. “And partnering with so many great community groups and elected officials from across the city is a joy. Working together with these wonderful people to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our communities is what Health Plus is all about.”

Josephine Marino (center) and Manuel Torres of Health Plus, and Police Officer Debbie Edwards, share the delight that the Easter Bunny brings to children at the Snug Harbor, Staten Island, Easter Egg Hunt.

# # #

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.