WellCare Sponsors Community Garden to Help Refugees Enhance Their Health and Lives

MIAMI - April 10, 2013 - PRLog -- The WellCare Community Foundation has donated $5,000 to help the International Rescue Committee (IRC) launch their New Roots program in Miami, Fla. WellCare’s donation will be used to buy seedlings to start the programs’ first community garden in Miami.

Each year, thousands of refugees are forced to flee their countries to avoid conflict or persecution, and the U.S. government invites them to seek safety and freedom in the U.S. The IRC helps these refugees rebuild their lives, and with the New Roots program, they teach them how to become self-sufficient through community gardening, nutrition education and small-business farming.

“WellCare has made a commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and helping to build healthier communities across Florida,” said David McNichols, president of WellCare of Florida. “We are pleased for the opportunity to plant the seeds that will give families access to healthier options and play a role in enhancing lives for generations to come.”

The New Roots community garden in Miami will allow refugees to produce fresh fruits and vegetables for their families and offer inexpensive, fresh produce to their neighbors. The IRC and WellCare will also follow-up with the refugees during monthly health fairs to provide information about nutrition and healthy food choices.

“The IRC’s New Roots program is an integral part of our mission to enrich the quality of refugees’ lives,” said Suzy Cop, executive director of the IRC in Miami. “Thanks to supporting organizations such as WellCare, the IRC has been instrumental in establishing New Roots gardens and farms in 14 U.S. cities, and helping communities build a more secure and sustainable future.”

About the International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC in Miami creates opportunities for refugees to thrive. For more information, visit http://www.rescue.org/miami.

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 underserved 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.

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind, and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The company serves approximately 2.7 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2012. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com.