TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), in honor of National Diabetes Month in November, announced today that the company's employees and the WellCare Community Foundation together gave more than $125,000 to support the 2015 American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes campaign.
The WellCare Community Foundation donated $35,000 as the presenting sponsor of the 2015 Step Out: Tampa Bay. WellCare employees raised more than $90,000, and nearly 800 registered walkers joined 31 company teams that participated in 20 Step Out events across the country.
More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, including 8 million whose condition is still undiagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States, and costs an estimated $245 billion every year in medical expenses and indirect costs related to disabilities, work loss and premature deaths.
"WellCare is committed to supporting the ADA's mission to prevent and cure diabetes," said Dr. Steven Goldberg, WellCare's senior vice president and chief medical officer, and a member of the ADA Tampa Community Leadership Board. "This disease impacts many of our members, families and friends, and we are dedicated to helping improve the lives of all people affected."
Dr. Goldberg also serves as WellCare's executive sponsor for its ADA fundraising initiative. Dr. Goldberg knows firsthand the devastating impact of diabetes; his dad lived with Type 1 diabetes for 46 years. He continues to serve as Dr. Goldberg's inspiration for raising awareness of the disease.
"WellCare's support of the ADA has been steadfast and impactful in our ability to deliver our mission," said David McShea, national director, Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. "Over the past seven years, WellCare's increased employee engagement around our Step Out walks has demonstrated that the ADA's cause is near and dear to their hearts. We are so grateful for the relationship we have developed and look forward to many more years fighting diabetes with WellCare by our side."
About the WellCare Community Foundation
The WellCare Community Foundation was established in 2010 and is a non-profit, private foundation. Its mission is to foster and promote the health, well-being and quality of life for the poor, distressed and other medically under-served populations – including those who are elderly, young and indigent – and the communities in which they live. The WellCare Community Foundation carries out this mission by supporting work that helps people live healthy, safe and productive lives, and by assisting groups with serious and neglected health needs. Underscoring this mission is the WellCare Community Foundation's goal to serve as a national resource that fosters an environment where there is a continuum of education, access and quality health care, all of which improve the overall health, well-being and quality of life of targeted beneficiaries.
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 3.8 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2015. 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.
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
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