WellCare awards $12,000 in scholarships to winners and finalists of the Florida Alliance Of Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of The Year Competition
TAMPA, FL and TALLAHASSEE, FL — WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) donated $12,000 in scholarships for state winners and finalists of the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs’ annual Youth of the Year competition and celebration. The event was held on April 28 in Orlando, Fla., and is focused on recognizing the state’s most outstanding Boys & Girls Club members. WellCare also served as the main sponsor of the event.
“WellCare recognizes the value of investing in our children to help shape a better, healthier future,” said Gregg MacDonald, state president, WellCare of Florida. “We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and have helped many of our young health plan members to attend local Boys & Girls Clubs across the state. It is an honor to take our support a step further to help some very bright and talented children achieve their academic goals.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year recognition is the highest honor a club member can achieve. Founded in 1947, the program celebrates those who have overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. Individual Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida select one member, age 14 to 18, who has demonstrated continued service to the club, their community and their families to represent them as a Youth of the Year candidate. An independent panel of judges reviews candidates’ academic achievements, moral character, public speaking abilities and life goals to select winners and finalists who receive academic scholarships. This year, two Florida winners were each awarded $5,000 scholarships and four finalists each received $500 scholarships:
Florida Traditional Youth of the Year:
- Winner: Maryah Sullivan – Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Joe R. Lee Branch, Eatonville
- Finalist: Pablo Mendez – Broward County Boys & Girls Clubs, Fort Lauderdale
- Finalist: Thanise Marc – Collier County Boys & Girls Clubs, Naples
- Finalist: Annie Conradi – Lakes and Sumter Counties Boys & Girls Clubs, Leesburg Florida
Military Youth of the Year:
- Winner: Stephanie Boling – Tyndall Youth Programs, Panama City
- Finalist: Brendon Pennington – Hurlburt Youth Programs, Mary Esther
Winners will participate in regional competitions and have the opportunity to progress to the Boys & Girls Clubs national competition. The National Youth of the Year winner will receive an additional $50,000 scholarship and a chance to meet with President Barack H. Obama in the White House Oval Office in September.
“With the dedicated support of sponsors and donors such as WellCare, we are able to shape and inspire one of society’s greatest resources—our children,” said Daniel Lyons, executive director, Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. “More than 135,000 Florida children pass through the clubs’ doors each day, and with WellCare’s support, we are helping these children become healthy, productive and successful adults.”
In Florida, WellCare offers eligible members of WellCare’s Staywell Kids and HealthEase Kids plans scholarships to apply toward the cost of membership to their local Boys & Girls Clubs. For more information about member benefits, visit https://florida.wellcare.com/member.
As of March 31, 2014, WellCare serves approximately 400,000 Medicaid plan members, 82,000 Florida Healthy Kids members, 84,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 57,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Florida.
