After launching a successful pilot program in 2016, Harmony Health Plan, Inc., a WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) company, will continue to support the Knowledge and Collaboration Center for Capacity Building at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC).
Launched last year with a $5,000 grant from Harmony, the Center works directly with community-based organizations to create and tailor trainings to support their unique organizational and development needs. Through the program, five groups received consultant time with a value of $1,500 to support capacity building, leadership development, financial management and strategic planning, which will help the organizations serve a larger number of community members. Harmony doubled its support this year with a $10,000 contribution.
Last year, the funds helped provide capacity building training for organizations such as the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus who applied for and gained Chicago Department of Public Health funds. The program allowed the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project to improve marketing outreach and gave the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago tools it needed to increase availability of legal services for people living with HIV. Project VIDA also used the program to gain Chicago Department of Public Health funding.
“The organizations AFC selected last year used these funds to improve fundraising, marketing and other organizational skills to help them support those affected by HIV and AIDS,” said Miguel Torres, senior director, field sales and marketing at Harmony Health Plan. “Our 2017 sponsorship will allow AFC to expand both the number of organizations served and provide more intensive support to participating agencies, helping them to fill gaps in funding for infrastructure, which is difficult for small organizations to raise.”
“Now more than ever, as the Illinois budget impasse forces agencies to cut budgets and services, it is important to build partnerships with organizations that are working to make a difference in their communities and in the lives of the people we serve,” said David Reynolds, Harmony acting president and WellCare north division senior vice president. “Harmony’s grant to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago will have an impact on the city for years to come as community organizations become stronger through skills and development training.”
“Because of Harmony’s grant, AFC will, once again, provide hands-on support and comprehensive, one-on-one trainings to community-based organizations in structural improvements, organizational management, leadership training and grant applications,” said John Peller, president/CEO of AFC. “With a lack of state budget in Illinois and an ever-changing health care environment, these resources are critically important, and we are grateful for Harmony’s steadfast support of AFC and its capacity building initiatives.”
As of Dec. 31, 2016, WellCare and Harmony Health Plan serve approximately 209,000 members in Illinois, including 166,000 Medicaid members, 16,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 27,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: 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 3.9 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2016. 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.
SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
