SCAN Health Plan Donates $85,000 to California Nonprofits to Help Feed Seniors In-Need

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- SCAN Health Plan has furthered its longstanding commitment to healthy, independent aging with financial contributions to 12 California nonprofit organizations that support senior nutrition. The statewide donations, which year-to-date total $85,000, are part of SCAN's ongoing commitment to supporting seniors in the communities it serves.

"Significant decreases in state and federal funding have created financial shortfalls for many community-based organizations," said David Schmidt, CEO of SCAN, a senior-focused not-for-profit health plan. "At SCAN we feel strongly about ensuring that critically important resources remain open and available to seniors who rely on them, especially for something as basic as a warm meal."  

SCAN's community giving program is focused on helping to meet immediate needs – and close gaps – in community services. Funding is provided to community-based, nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to seniors, particularly those providing basic human needs such as food. The organizations that recently received funding from SCAN are: Angel's Depot in San Diego, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin, Food Bank of Contra Costa, Health Trust (Meals on Wheels) in Santa Clara, LOEL Center and Gardens in San Joaquin, Los Angeles-based Food Bank of Southern California, Meal on Wheels in Contra Costa, Second Harvest in Riverside, Second Harvest in Santa Clara, Self-Help for the Elderly in San Francisco, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee.

In 2009 SCAN launched this outreach effort by donating approximately $385,000 to 44 not-for-profit, community-based organizations statewide. The majority of these contributions focused on senior nutrition, with dollars also going toward long-term care and caregiver programs.

"The growth of the older adult population is impacting communities and families all across America," said Schmidt. "There has never been a greater need to support community organizations through meaningful and purposeful giving."

SCAN's community giving program is part of the health plan's larger community outreach efforts, which also include the SCAN Van mobile resource center for seniors and caregivers launched earlier this year, SCAN's "Trading Ages™" senior sensitivity program, the SCAN Resource Centers in California and Arizona, and many other initiatives.  

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of seniors and is now the country's fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan. The company currently has nearly 130,000 members in California and Arizona. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.

SOURCE SCAN Health Plan