Today's Options Champions Competition Begins Online Voting

SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's Options^®, part of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG, announced Thursday the finalists in the annual Today's Options Champions Competition and the beginning of online voting to determine the Grand Champion. Today's Options, a leading local Medicare Advantage health plan, created the competition to honor individuals who help older adults in Central New York live healthier and better lives.

All of the Champions and their stories are featured on www.TodaysOptionsChampions.com. Community members can read about them and vote for a Grand Champion daily through August 22.

The Champion with the most votes will be named the 2017 Today's Options Grand Champion. He or she will be honored at the New York State Fair's Chevy Court on August 29 before the Marshall Tucker Band at 2 p.m. The winner will present a $10,000 donation to his or her chosen charitable organization at that time.

"We are proud of the terrific work being done in the community by this year's Today's Options Champions," said Dan DeLucia, vice president of Today's Options. "Each of our finalists deserves recognition and will be honored at the Syracuse Chiefs game on July 27. The public can get involved by reading the Champions' personal stories on our website and voting for a Grand Champion."

Today's Options Champions are Central New York residents who are examples of how one person can make a difference in the lives of older adults. The competition is a way to recognize people who share Todays Options' goals of improving quality of life and maximizing access to services for seniors and people with Medicare.

Meet the Today's Options Champions:

• Jenny Ackley – Jenny Ackley's mission is to see that older adults in Central New York are honored, respected and valued, living with dignity and freedom from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Through her work with the Abuse in Later Life program at Vera House, Jenny does just this. Jenny has transformed the lives of seniors in Central New York through her tireless efforts to educate and assist those who are, or who may become, victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• Sandy Bufis & Suzanne Loveland – Sandy Bufis and Suzanne Loveland are the brains and driving forces behind InterFaith Works of Central New York's One-to-One program. Having a friendship that stems back over 30 years, Sandy and Suzanne identified the need to develop a program that would help build a community of companionship for seniors to seek out as they age. The duo has championed the cause of isolation in aging and in the process rallied a growing cadre of advocates for their movement.
• Wendy Davenport – Wendy Davenport is dedicated to helping seniors enjoy their golden years. Through her work with Oasis, an educational enrichment program for seniors, Wendy combines her passion for teaching and working with seniors in one setting. A volunteer with Oasis since 2005, Wendy has transformed the lives of many seniors in Central New York, helping them avoid the social isolation that often comes with aging.
• Richard Synek – For Richard Synek, honoring and helping veterans in need is not a choice, but a calling. Recognizing that millions of U.S. Veterans are at-risk of becoming homeless and going hungry, Rich founded Feed Our Vets. As the founder and executive director of Feed Our Vets, Rich works tirelessly to give back to the men and women who have given so much to our country.
• Ric Wahl – For Ric Wahl, retirement opened the door to pursuing his passion for volunteer work. As treasurer, member of the board of directors, and one of the lead cooks at North Area Meals on Wheels (NAMOW), Ric can often be found in the kitchen preparing more than 200 balanced and nutritious meals for seniors. As a dedicated volunteer for the past four years, Ric is known as one of the driving forces behind the organization's success.

Go to www.TodaysOptionsChampions.com to read the Champions' full stories and watch their videos on YouTube.

Voting is open now through August 22. Each voter has the opportunity to vote once per day for the Today's Options Grand Champion of their choice. Go out and vote!

About Today's Options:
Today's Options^®, part of WellCare Health Plans Inc., specializes in Medicare Advantage plans. The goal of our plans is to help our members stay active, live healthy and be independent.

For more information about Today's Options please visit our website at www.TodaysOptions.com.

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. WellCare serves approximately 4.1 million members nationwide as of March 31, 2017. 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.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.