WellCare Contributes $1 Million to Step Up for Students Scholarship Fund

News provided by

WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Aug 21, 2013, 08:30 ET

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 21, 2013 -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced that it is contributing $1 million to the Step Up For Students scholarship program. The program provides scholarships to Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grade who come from low-income families. These scholarships enable students to enroll in private schools or out-of-district public schools that may better suit their individual needs.

Step Up For Students gives corporations that meet certain criteria, the opportunity to contribute tax dollars to the scholarship program. WellCare’s contribution will provide approximately 198 scholarships for Florida students during the 2013-2014 school year. The company began participating in the Step Up for Students program in 2004 and has since contributed $9 million to scholarships for approximately 2,400 students across Florida.

“For 11 years, our program has been helping our state’s most disadvantaged and academically vulnerable children access the schools that best meet their needs,” said Step Up For Students President, Doug Tuthill. “The program exists to promote equal educational opportunity, so all of Florida’s children have a better chance at a successful future. We are grateful to WellCare for helping us make this mission a reality.”

“WellCare is committed to helping our members lead better and healthier lives, and to supporting the communities in which they live,” said Alec Cunningham, WellCare’s CEO. “It is an honor to be part of the Step Up for Students program, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to build brighter futures for children across Florida.”

Since the program’s inception in 2002, Step Up For Students has provided scholarships to more than 271,000 low-income, Florida students. During the 2013-2014 school year, approximately 60,000 Florida students are expected to receive scholarships.

For more information about Step Up for Students, visit https://stepupforstudents.org .

As of June 30, 2013, WellCare serves approximately 79,000 Medicare Advantage plan members, 478,000 Medicaid/CHIP plan members and 39,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Florida.

Denise Malecki, WellCare Health Plans, Inc., +1 (813) 206-2747, [email protected]