Health Insurance Employees Make a Difference

Ohio’s Health Insurance Employees Make a Difference in Their Communities

Employees from the member companies of the Ohio Association of Health Plans are participating in a wide variety of Make a Difference Day Ohio activities October 23-24 in order to lend a helping hand to those in need in their communities.

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Health insurance employees from all corners of Ohio are a participating in this statewide effort of voluntary service to their communities. The projects they will participate in range from holding a blood drive, helping with free health clinics, collecting food for the BackPack program and other food banks, to painting a computer lab at a transitional housing program for homeless and jobless families.

“Ohio’s health insurance companies and their employees care deeply about their neighbors and their communities,” said Kelly McGivern, President and CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans. “By sharing their time, talents and giving generously, health insurance employees have demonstrated their commitment to their fellow Ohioans and have made a positive difference.”

Make A Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of citizens volunteering to make communities stronger.  Founded by USA Weekend Magazine and the Points of Light Institute, Make A Difference Day is the largest national day of helping others. Make a Difference Day Ohio (MDDO) was created to promote participation by Ohioans in the national effort. Since 2000, when MDDO was established, Ohio has led the nation in the number of service projects.

Ohio’s First Lady Frances Strickland and OSU Football Head Coach Jim Tressel are the honorary co-chairs for this year’s MDDO.

Following is a list of Ohio Association of Health Plans’ companies and the projects they are participating in:

  • Aetna – Columbus-area employees are collecting food items and monetary donations for the local food bank with an emphasis on Thanksgiving.
  • AultCare – collecting food for the BackPack program that helps fill backpacks with food that children take home on weekends and holidays in Stark County
  • Buckeye Community Health Plan – Employees participated in a dress down day with proceeds benefiting the United Way
  • Molina Healthcare of Ohio- Columbus employees will take part in a blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross
  • SummaCare – Akron employees will have the opportunity to support Hattie Larlham. Representatives from the organization will be selling their unique items at SummCare’s offices, including: artwork, candles, coffee and salsa. Hattie Larlham provides services to children and adults with disabilities through community homes, respite/private duty home care, foster care services, an integrated day care, animal programs and vocational training.
  • The Health Plan – employees from St. Clairsville area worked in free clinic for United Way Day of Caring; Run/Walk events earned monies for Catholic Charities, Sam Mumley scholarship fund, American Cancer Society, The Debbie Green Memorial fund, Race for Grace, and the Wheeling YMCA.
  • United Health Care- Columbus-area employees are collecting items for food bank with partners with a focus on childhood obesity
  • Unison Health Plan – sponsoring Jackson County Make a Difference Day activities and employees are walking in the Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk
  • WellCare of Ohio – painting a computer lab at a transitional housing program for homeless and jobless families in Cleveland.