“Angel With a Heart” Award Presented to SCAN Health Plan

(LONG BEACH, CALIF. – June 29, 2011) — SCAN Health Plan has been recognized with the “Betty Bartley Angel With a Heart” award by the SmileMakers Guild of the Council on Aging–Orange County. The award is given annually to organizations whose commitment to the Guild’s Angel Tree project makes the biggest impact on the program. The award is named after Betty Bartley, 91, a SmileMakers Guild volunteer since 2002 and whose creative thinking helped establish the award.

“We are proud to be recognized for support of the Angel Tree project as well as our longstanding support of the Council on Aging–Orange County,” said Lena Perelman, director of community outreach for SCAN, a senior-focused not-for-profit health plan. “Our mission is to help seniors live independently at home and in their communities as long as possible. Together with our local partners, such as the council, we are working to make a genuine impact on the lives of older adults in every community we serve.”

The “Angel With a Heart” award was presented to SCAN’s executive team by Cheryl Meronk, CEO of Council on Aging–Orange County. Also in attendance were Hedy Kirsh, president of the SmileMakers Guild, and Cathy Johnston, vice president of the SmileMakers Guild.

Through its community giving program, SCAN has supported various Council on Aging programs including the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the annual fundraiser. Council on Aging was also one of the organizations selected by SCAN in 2010 to receive a $15,000 grant to establish an Emergency Assistance Fund. The funds allowed Council on Aging to provide one-time financial support to older adults and their caregivers faced with unexpected expenses.

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. SCAN’s community-giving program is focused on helping to meet immediate needs – and assist with closing gaps – in community services.

For more information, visit scanhealthplan.com.

The Council on Aging–Orange County is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation that serves 75,000 seniors and their families throughout Orange County annually. The Council on Aging-Orange County has been advocating for the independence, health and dignity of older adults since 1973.