Health Partners: In Wellness and Health, Partners for Life.

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	For Immediate Release October 26, 2009	Contact: Felicia Phillips 215-967-4580
	Luminaries Lauded for Feeding Mind, Body and Soul Health Partners Hosts Seventh Annual Making a Difference Awards Philadelphia, PA – Health Partners and the Health Partners Foundation (HPF) hosted its seventh annual Making a Difference awards program on October 14, paying tribute to individuals and programs that have inspired others to embrace healthy living and made a profound, positive impact in the community. Emceed by CBS 3’s Dave Huddleston, the event was held at the health plan’s corporate headquarters on Market Street. The Food Trust was awarded HPF’s Making a Difference Award for emphasizing healthy eating in underserved communities. In addition to helping bring farmers markets and supermarkets into low-income neighborhoods, the Food Trust has helped raise the level of health among Philadelphia students by implementing a comprehensive nutrition program, featuring nutrition education, standards for school food services, staff training, and an emphasis on family and community involvement. Carmen Febo-San Miguel, MD, executive director, Taller Puertorriqueño Inc., received this year’s Partners Award for serving the Latino community as a physician, and a leader in promoting the arts for children, while courageously waging a personal battle against cancer for the past 16 years. Dr. Febo-San Miguel practices medicine part time at Maria de los Santos Health Center in North Philadelphia and assists the Mayor’s Commission on Puerto Rican/Latino Affairs and other Latino cultural and service organizations. High school seniors, Percy Mitchell III, Multi-Cultural Academy, and Amber Alexander, Cardinal Dougherty High School, each received the 2009 Junior Partners Award for their outstanding scholastic achievements and exemplary extracurricular work in the community. Mr. Mitchell dedicates much of his spare time to community organizations including AIDS Funds, New Testament Christian Academy and New Life and Christ Fellowship Baptist Church. He speaks to young students about the importance of setting goals and making education a priority and created a Bible study group for teens. He maintains high marks in school and has a near perfect attendance record. Miss Alexander has won awards for being the top student in physical science, geometry and physical education and is a basketball and lacrosse player at Cardinal Dougherty. She is a role model in the Dawn Staley Foundation After School Program, where for the past six years she has helped feed countless women and children in need and distributed food baskets to the elderly during the holidays. Interested in a career in law enforcement, Miss Alexander takes part in the Philadelphia Police Explorer Cadet Program and has interned in a local criminal law office. Photo: Health Partners and the Health Partners Foundation honored individuals and organizations that are committed to building for the future through community service at its seventh annual Making a Difference Awards program. (Standing l-r): Dave Huddleston, anchor, CBS3/CW and event emcee; Claudia Tucker Keto, executive director, Health Partners Foundation; Judy Harrington, president, Health Partners Foundation; Bill George, president and CEO, Health Partners and Chairman, Health Partners Foundation; Leyla Moreno, supervisor of community relations, Health Partners; and Randy Mintz-Presant, director, corporate communications and public affairs, Health Partners. (Seated l-r): Percy Mitchell III, 12th grader, Multi-Cultural Career Academy and HPF Junior Partners Awardee; Amber Alexander, 12th grader, Cardinal Dougherty High School and HPF Junior Partners Awardee; Dr. Carmen Febo San Miguel, executive director, Taller Puertorriqueño and HPF Partners Awardee; and Yael Lehmann, executive director, the Food Trust, who accepted Health Partners’ Making a Difference Award on behalf of the Food Trust. (Photography Credit: Leaping Lion Photography). About Health Partners and the Health Partners Foundation: Health Partners is the result of a unique collaboration among seven area hospitals to create a not-for-profit health plan for residents of Philadelphia. Since 1985, the company has advanced innovations in managed care. It currently serves 153,000 members in southeastern Pennsylvania and consistently ranks number one in member satisfaction in the area. The Health Partners Foundation, founded in 1999 by employees of Health Partners, supports low-income communities within the Greater Philadelphia region, with educational programs, scholarships, and emergency assistance. For more information, please visit www.healthpart.com. ###

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