Health Plus - Homecoming Day At The Harlem YMCA Honors Y Legacy And Future

For Immediate Release

Homecoming Day At The Harlem YMCA Honors Y Legacy And Future
Famed Aaron Douglas Mural Begins Needed Restoration, Harlem Little League named "Heroes in Our Midst" at Reception Hosted by Hon. Charles Rangel and Percy Sutton

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Harlem, NY - October 24, 2002 — As Harlem moves to the height of its "Second Renaissance," today, the Harlem YMCA hosted a homecoming that welcomed everyone to return, or experience for the first time, the magic of the historic 135th Street icon of recreational, cultural, and human service.

This second homecoming event, titled "Come Home to Harlem: Restore the Legacy" was an all-day celebration that included events such as a formal announcement of the Aaron Douglas Mural restoration by preservationist Luca Bonetti; a reception honoring the Harlem Little League as "Heroes in our Midst" hosted by Congressman Charles Rangel and Percy Sutton; a donation of 20 computers by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company for the forthcoming Harlem YMCA Family Computer Center; youth center room dedications for Rev. Calvin Butts and Larry Dais; historical photo exhibition; silent auction; health fair hosted by local hospitals; book signing by five African-American authors; beauty makeovers by Avon Products; and, play readings in the historic Little Theatre by the Harlem YMCA theater group Revolving Stages.

The Homecoming's major sponsor was Health Plus. "We are pleased to honor and aid the Harlem YMCA in their continuing long legacy of producing community heroes and role models," said Chief Marketing Officer for Health Plus and Harlem YMCA Board Member Dominic Mascara. "Congressman Charles Rangel, Hon. Percy Sutton, Eartha Kitt, Calvin Butts, Roscoe C. Brown, Pop Gates, Cicely Tyson, Isabelle Sanford, Sidney Poitier, Langston Hughes, Jackie Robinson, just to name a few, are the types of community champions that benefited and blossomed from the amenities and programs that this cultural landmark offers youngsters."

Many other organizations provided support for the Harlem YMCA's Come Home to Harlem such as: AOL Time Warner, Anheuser-Busch, Avon Products, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Fleet Bank, Sheraton Hotel and Starbucks.

"The Harlem YMCA has provided a safe haven and enhanced the quality of life for residents of the Greater Harlem Community since 1919", said Elaine Edmonds, Harlem YMCA Executive Director. "We believe in partnering with other organizations to help build youth development, education and a cultural hub for all ages."

For the past two years, the Harlem YMCA has undertaken a capital campaign, raising 5.8 million dollars to enhance the buildings that continuously provide service to a growing number of youth and families. The homecoming showcased architectural plans of the forthcoming restorations that include the swimming pool, lobby areas and the building of a new family computer center.

The Harlem YMCA provides the residents of Greater Harlem and Washington Heights with a large range of youth, housing and health and wellness services. The Harlem YMCA is considered by many in the community to be the hub of Harlem's educational, health and cultural activities and operates program sites, including the 135th Street landmark, to meet the ever-changing needs of a growing Harlem. The Harlem YMCA is one of 20 branches that comprise the YMCA of Greater New York. The 150-year old not-for-profit organization serves youth and adults with a continuum of programs that foster growth in spirit, mind and body.

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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.