WellCare and Metropolitan Ministries Help Fill Backpacks with Hope
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- As part of Metropolitan Ministries’ annual Backpacks of Hope collection drive, employees of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) donated more than 3,000 school supplies that will help approximately 200 local students during the new school year. This Saturday, a team of WellCare volunteers joined Metropolitan Ministries’ staff to prepare the backpacks and landscape the non-profit’s Tampa campus.
"WellCare has made a commitment to serving our communities and helping Floridians in need," said David McNichols, president, WellCare of Florida, and a member of Metropolitan Ministries’ board of directors. "Through our collaboration with Metropolitan Ministries, we are able to provide basic tools children need to not only succeed in school, but to succeed in life."
WellCare and Metropolitan Ministries have engaged in a public-private collaboration since 2008. The partnership has leveraged the organizations’ unique resources and expertise to address the needs of underserved residents in Tampa Bay.
"Metropolitan Ministries strives to be known for our compassion and innovation in helping struggling families and individuals achieve their highest potential for self-sufficiency," said Tim Marks, president and COO, Metropolitan Ministries. "With the support of companies like WellCare, we are able to provide assistance to the community in times of need and help change people’s lives for the better."
Metropolitan Ministries distributes the collected school supplies through its community partners. To learn about the eligibility requirements to receive a free backpack and school supplies, parents or guardians should contact their child’s school or Taking it to the Street Ministries at 727-546-5767. To organize a collection drive, individuals or organizations should contact Metropolitan Ministries at 813-209-1271 or through http://www.metromin.org.
As of March 31, 2013, WellCare serves approximately 472,000 Medicaid members, 73,000 Medicare Advantage members and 38,000 Prescription Drug Plan members in Florida.
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 2.7 million members nationwide as of March 31, 2013. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com.
About Metropolitan Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries is a non-profit, nondenominational, faith based organization that faithfully provides answers for poor and homeless families. Founded in 1972 by 13 downtown Tampa Churches, this community supported ministry has earned the trust and support of charitable individuals, volunteers, businesses, churches, synagogues, civic organizations, schools and collaborative partners. Metropolitan Ministries does not depend on government funding and is not a United Way agency. Today, Metropolitan Ministries offers a wide spectrum of supportive services to alleviate suffering, promote human dignity and instill self-sufficiency. As Metropolitan Ministries celebrates over 40 Years of Hope, the Ministries is becoming known beyond the Tampa Bay community as one of America’s most effective and innovative caregivers. Metropolitan Ministries is located at 2002 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602. For more information, visit http://www.metromin.org or call 813-209-1000.
Marq Caughell - Media Relations, WellCare Health Plans, Inc., https://www.wellcare.com/, +1 813-206-3956, [email protected]
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