TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) announced today that it has given $20,000 in micro-grants to 18 community-based organizations across the state of Georgia. These micro-grants will support nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organizations that offer transportation, caregiving and dental care to Georgians in need.

"The organizations we selected have a strong foothold in their local communities and are a vital part of sustaining the social safety net for seniors and low-income children and families, meaning they provide services and supports that reduce and eliminate the impacts of poverty," said Veatrice Futch, supervisor of WellCare of Georgia's Community Advocacy team. "Decreases in funding are causing local, community-based public assistance organizations to cut back services. WellCare wants to do its part to sustain the social safety net to support the health and vitality of its members, their families and communities at large."

The 2015 micro-grants were given to the following community-based organizations:

Community-Based Organization

Program Highlights

Caring for Seniors Foundation

Americus, Georgia

The grant will provide caregiving and transportation support for seniors and the disabled, including respite care.

Center for Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc.

Kennesaw, Georgia

www.choicesforkids.org

The grant will provide caregiving and transportation for obese children.

COMIZIA Care, Inc.

Decatur, Georgia

www.comiziacare.org

The grant will provide transportation services for pregnant youths.

Enterprise Community Healthy Start

Waynesboro, Georgia

www.echealthystart.org

The grant will provide caregiving and dental support for infants and toddlers.

Hancock County Family Connection, Inc.

Sparta, Georgia

www.fccishancock.org

The grant will provide transportation for individuals with chronic renal failure.

Heart of GA Community Action Council Inc.

Warner Robins, Georgia

www.mgcaa.org

The grant will provide transportation services for pregnant women and parenting families to social services and support groups.

Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Savannah, Georgia

www.hospicesavannah.org

The grant will provide caregiving support for individuals with life limiting or chronic diagnoses.

Jewish Family & Career Services, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

www.yourtoolsforliving.org

The grant will provide dental and transportation services to the Ben Mansell Dental Clinic.

The Land of Promise

Atlanta, Georgia

The grant will provide caregiving support for children who participate in free or reduced lunch programs.

The Lydia Project, Inc.

Augusta, Georgia

www.thelydiaproject.org

The grant will provide transportation for oncology patients.

Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Clubs

Thomasville, Georgia

www.mnw-bgc.org

The grant will provide caregiving and transportation to its afterschool program.

Mary Lou Fraser Foundation for

Families, Inc.

Hinesville, Georgia

www.frasercenter.com

The grant will provide caregiving and transportation to parenting classes and support groups for victims of child abuse.

Prevent Child Abuse in Gordon

County, Inc.

Calhoun, Georgia

www.familyresourcecentergordon.org

The grant will provide caregiving and transportation for child abuse victims and their families.

Pulaski-Bleckley Baptist Association

Cochran, Georgia

www.pulaskibleckleybaptistassociation.com

The grant will provide dental services for the uninsured.

Rehoboth Life Care Ministries, Inc.

Byron, Georgia

www.careforlifeclinic.com

The grant will provide transportation services for dental care.

7000 Men, Inc.

Macon, Georgia

The grant will provide transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Streetwise Georgia, Inc.

Lawrenceville, Georgia

www.streetwisegeorgia.org

The grant will expand its food distribution to low-income families.

Waycross Area Shelter for Abused Persons, Inc.

Waycross, Georgia

www.waycrossareashelter.com

The grant will provide transportation to social services for victims of domestic violence.

"WellCare's micro-grant program in Georgia is one facet of our commitment to building partnerships with community organizations that offer support in meeting basic social needs, including assistance with food, housing, transportation and dental care," said Pamme Lyons-Taylor, vice president of WellCare's Advocacy and Community Based Programs. "Grants, regardless of size, when awarded at the right time to the right organization, can be exactly what a community-based organization needs to grow in reach and make a difference. By identifying these programs, we have the opportunity to improve health care access and to enhance the health and lives of our members and communities."

"C.H.O.I.C.E.S. is honored to be a WellCare micro-grant recipient," said Kenya Heard, program director for the Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc. in Kennesaw, Georgia. "These funds will enable more girls, ages 10-17, who are struggling with their weight and related health and emotional challenges to participate in our program by providing additional transportation assistance. We thank WellCare for extending this life changing program."

"When indigent women residing throughout rural Georgia need to come to Augusta's medical community for specialized cancer treatment, they receive free lodging at Augusta's Daksha Chudgar Lydia House," said Michelle Canchola, executive director for the Lydia Project in Augusta, Georgia. "WellCare's partnership of hope will provide lodging guests' with needed transportation costs from the House to medical appointments. WellCare's grant will help save lives."

"WellCare's commitment to support children in Cliftondale, who do not have enough food to eat on the weekends when school lunch is not available, is appreciated by the children, their parents, the teachers and our community," said Veronica Mount, executive director of Land of Promise. "We thank them for supporting the health and vitality of food insecure children."

As of June 30, 2015, WellCare serves approximately 594,000 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® plan members, 33,500 Medicare Advantage plan members and 23,500 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Georgia. To learn more about how we care for Georgians watch Gloria's story at http://youtu.be/qyn-nywze04.

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. The Company serves approximately 3.8 million members nationwide as of June 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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