WellCare Employees Contribute Over 10,000 Volunteer Hours to Local Charities in 2015

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG, a leading provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, announced today that its employees contributed more than 10,000 volunteer hours in 2015 through their support of more than 200 events across 14 states.

"Our associates are the cornerstone of our company," said Larry Anderson, WellCare's senior vice president and chief human resources officer. "The more than 10,000 hours they volunteered in 2015 demonstrates our culture of care and service. We hire talented people who most of all want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of low-income children and families, the elderly and the disabled."

WellCare's 6,800 associates volunteered with a number of organizations throughout 2015.The largest contribution of volunteer hours was given through WellCare's Day of Service, a company initiative designed to help strengthen the communities WellCare serves by providing all associates at least one paid work day to volunteer at community-based organizations. In 2015, WellCare held more than 180 Day of Service events.

WellCare associates also volunteer on their own time as part of the WellCare Associate Volunteer Efforts (WAVE) program. The program creates awareness and generates much-needed supplies and funds for partner organizations that support those in need. In 2015, there were 26 WAVE events involving more than 900 volunteers who contributed 3,293 hours of service to seven different organizations. Those included Feeding America; Paint Your Heart Out, Tampa; Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Bakas, Horses for the Handicapped; Habitat for Humanity; Metropolitan Ministries; and The Spring.

Associates also held more than 15 collection drives in 2015. In Florida alone, six blood drives were held for OneBlood, resulting in the donation of 395 units of blood that helped save 1,185 lives. In addition, 98 phones were collected for Cell Phones for Soldiers; more than 13,000 pounds of food was collected for area food banks; 9,200 school supplies were collected in back-to-school drives; and 2,000 hygiene items were collected for the homeless.

"Our mission is to help our members live better and healthier lives and that involves supporting local community-based organizations," said Gregg MacDonald, WellCare's state president in Florida. "These organizations are a vital part of the social safety net, which many of our members rely upon."

"Our members cannot prioritize their health if they have basic unmet needs involving food, shelter or transportation," said Dr. Robert Hilliard, Jr., WellCare's state president in Illinois. "WellCare contributes to and collaborates with community partners to help connect our members with the resources they need to face the challenges in their lives that often go beyond health care."

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. The Company serves approximately 3.8 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2015. For more information about WellCare, please visit the Company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

CONTACT:   
Johanna Herrmann
(623) 687-5701
johanna.herrmann@wellcare.com

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.