Health Plus - A Warm Embrace in a Cold Winter

For Immediate Release

A Warm Embrace in a Cold Winter
Health Plus Distributes Coats to Those in Need

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

New York, NY - January 31, 2007 — As old Jack Frost clears his throat and the winter winds begin to blow with gusto, New Yorkers start to think of warmer days and escaping the cold. Unfortunately, this is not possible for everyone. Each night almost 40,000 New Yorkers depend on city shelters for a place to stay, yet many more are outside with little or nothing to keep them warm. This is why each year, managed care organization Health Plus works hard to make sure needy New Yorkers receive a little winter warmth. Sponsoring the New York Cares Coat Drive -- which collects more that 70,000 coats each year for donation across the city -- and partnering with many organizations to conduct its own coat collections and distributions, Health Plus makes a difference in the lives of many thousands of New Yorkers.

This past weekend and all this week, numerous coat distributions are taking place at shelters, community centers, and at Health Plus offices throughout the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County. Working with local politicians, community and religious groups, Health Plus is bringing its dedication directly to the communities, where hardworking, but underpaid residents of New York City can receive a free gently-worn coat.

“This is one of our favorite annual events,” says Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus.
“It’s both an honor and a privilege to be in a position to help so many make it through another tough winter. A warm coat may not seem so important to people who have one, but for many families who don’t, it can make a make a world of difference.”

Health Plus Manhattan Regional Marketing Manager, Julio Coronel, New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, and Health Plus Marketing Representative Monica Pineda stand with Manhattan residents at the Health Plus Coat Distribution.

Queens Assemblyman Jose Peralta, standing next to Health Plus Special Events Coordinator Carina Vizhnay and his own Chief of Staff, Yonel Letellier, speaks to a crowd of Queens residents in attendance at the Health Plus Coat Distribution.

Health Plus Special Events Coordinator Ramon Ortiz passes a coat and hat to a New York City resident who attended the Health Plus Coat Distribution event in Harlem, Manhattan, this past weekend.

Assemblyman Darryl Towns of Brooklyn helps a youngster place a coat into a bag at the Health Plus Coat Distribution event this past weekend -- one of many events hosted by the company this week, where thousands of warm coats and jackets will be given out.

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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.