WellCare Donates $25,000 To Support The Georgia Chapter Of The American Diabetes Association

This donation will go to five key community outreach programs throughout 2014 to help support the more than one million Georgia residents who currently suffer from diabetes, many of whom are unaware that they have it.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 19, 2014

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG today announced that it donated $25,000 to the Georgia Chapter of the American Diabetes Association as a part of its ongoing partnership to help fight this deadly disease.

This donation will go to five key community outreach programs throughout 2014 to help support the more than one million Georgia residents who currently suffer from diabetes, many of whom are unaware that they have it. The five programs are:

• Project Power – A faith-based program to provide diabetes education and information at churches.
• EXPO Atlanta – A free event to bring businesses, health care providers, patients, caregivers and community members who specialize in diabetes together.
• Por Tu Familia – A program to inform and educate the Latino community about diabetes.
• Senior Signature Series – A series of education and outreach efforts, including the development of one-page fact sheets, for those 50 and over.
• Healthy Kids Initiative – A series of informative and interactive sessions to teach children and their families how to prevent and control diabetes.

“If the diabetes trend in Georgia continues, it is estimated that one out of every three children, and one in two minority children, could face a future with diabetes,” said Rena Cozart, executive director, Georgia Chapter, American Diabetes Association. “The assistance of long-term partners like WellCare is critical in helping us to provide the education and support that is needed to have measurable impact in the state.”

“The American Diabetes Association is a valued partner and we are committed to help fight a disease that affects so many of our members, families and friends,” said Roman Kulich, WellCare's region president, Georgia and South Carolina. “This important work not only helps people live healthier lives, but it also helps to address the increasing health care costs associated with diabetes.”

As part of its partnership with the Georgia chapter of the ADA, WellCare of Georgia outreach employees have been trained as certified diabetes ambassadors, which enables them to administer risk-factor tests and provide diabetes education.

For more information about diabetes and the programs the donation will help to support, contact the Atlanta/North Georgia Region ADA office at 404-320-7100 or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383).

As of June 30, 2014, WellCare serves approximately 617,000 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® plan members, 29,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 53,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Georgia.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind, and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The company serves approximately 3.9 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2014. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/WellCare/Health/prweb12103589.htm