WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a leading provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, announced today that the WellCare Community Foundation gave $5,000 to the Orange County Food Bank on behalf of the company’s Easy Choice Health Plan. The donation will help provide nutrition for those in need as part of the food bank’s “Hope for the Holidays” campaign.
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a leading provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, announced today that the WellCare Community Foundation gave $5,000 to the Orange County Food Bank on behalf of the company’s Easy Choice Health Plan. The donation will help provide nutrition for those in need as part of the food bank’s “Hope for the Holidays” campaign. In addition, Easy Choice associates collected and donated 475 pounds of food through an employee food drive, and more than 30 associates volunteered at the Orange County Food Bank on Dec. 10 to help pack food boxes. “Support like WellCare’s can significantly expand our ability to serve those in need and energize others to give,” said Mark Lowry, director of the Orange County Food Bank. “It also helps to close the gap between what people need and what we are able to provide.” “The Orange County Food Bank is a vital part of the social safety net which helps to ensure that low-income families and seniors do not have to worry about whether they’ll have enough to eat,” said Rick Desai, chief operating officer for Easy Choice Health Plan, a WellCare company. “At Easy Choice, our mission is to help our members lead better, healthier lives, and that involves supporting nonprofits that strengthen the communities where our members live.” The Orange County Food Bank distributes food to nearly 400 local charities, kitchens and community organizations. Every month, the food bank delivers more than 23,000 food boxes to low-income seniors and produce bags to more than 1,300 low-income elementary school students to ensure they have healthy food to eat at home. “Time and time again, I’m overwhelmed by our community’s willingness to take an active role in making our neighborhoods and cities a better place for all,” said state Sen. Janet Nguyen, who was on hand for Easy Choice’s Dec. 10 check presentation to the food bank. Sen. Nguyen, whose 34th District includes Garden Grove, where the OC Food Bank is located, advocates for people and companies to give back to their communities. In this effort, Sen. Nguyen launched “Kind California,” an initiative that seeks to encourage residents to perform random acts of kindness. To learn more about this initiative, visit www.facebook.com/kindcalifornia. For more information about the Orange County Food Bank, call (714) 897-6670 or go to ocfoodbank.org. Contributions can be dropped off Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the food bank, 11870 Monarch St., in Garden Grove. As of Sept. 30, 2015, WellCare and Easy Choice Health Plan serve approximately 32,500 Medicare Advantage members and 57,500 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in California.
