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For Immediate Release

An Extra Helping of Love
Health Plus Donates 1000s of Turkeys to New Yorkers in Need

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

NEW YORK, NY - November 23, 2006 — Health Plus, the managed care organization, kicked-off another Thanksgiving Turkey give-a-away this week, an annual initiative that will end by distributing nearly 7,000 free turkeys --including hundreds of kosher turkeys--  to New Yorkers in need.  Working with partners such as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Lutheran Medical Center, the Salvation Army, Healthmax Pharmacy, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, the Chinatown YMCA, Wyckoff Hospital, the Sunset Park Recreational Center, the NYPD, and many other local politicians, organizations, and charitable groups, Health Plus distributed the turkeys throughout the five boroughs and Nassau County.
 
This yearly event ensures a festive thanksgiving for many underprivileged New Yorkers and their families.  Health Plus is proud to support such a worthy effort, and was delighted with the participation of other organizations that assisted with the distribution.
 
“Many of us take it for granted that a turkey dinner is part of Thanksgiving,” says Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus, “but many New Yorkers simply can’t afford one. I’m really very happy that Health Plus could make such a meaningful contribution to the quality of life for so many families during this holiday season. Together with our many partners throughout the city, we’ve helped people enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday they deserve.”


Tom Early, Executive Director for Health Plus, and State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver present a free kosher turkey to a resident of the Lower East Side, as part of the Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away.

Tommy Cen, Chinatown Regional Marketing Manager for Health Plus(center), and Lillian Moy, Director of the Chinatown YMCA (left), stand with her staff at the Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away.

(from left) Illene Marcus, Kathryn Soman, Esther Schenker, and Harvey Gordon.

(from left) Jonathan Zalisky, Benny Wechsler, Cynthia Zalisky, Helene Weinstein, Akiva Goldfarb, Kathryn Soman, Joel Kaplan, Illene Marcus, and Yolanda Mulero.

Josette Pagan, Special Events Manager for HP, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., and George Sosa, Bronx Marketing Manager for HP, pose with a Bronx Resident who received a free turkey as part of the HP Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away.

Ahmed Hunibar, Marketing Supervisor for HP, Assemblyman Luis Diaz, Deacon Jose Arroyo of the Love Gospel Assembly, Brian A Draper of the Love Gospel Assembly, Josette Pagan, Special Events Manager for HP, and Rammsis De Jesus and Hommy Pena.

Sonia Antequera, Special Events Coordinator for Health Plus, (far left) and Larry McReynolds, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Lutheran Family Health Centers, stand with LMC staff and Sunset Park Residents.

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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.