In Albany Diocese, Fidelis Care Awards $127,000 from Community Grant Fund

ALBANY, NY (08/24/2011)(readMedia)-- Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, is pleased to announce the distribution of $102,000 from its Community Grant Fund to benefit Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, and $25,000 to support St. Mary's Hospital of Amsterdam.

For the seventh consecutive year, Fidelis Care is proud to offer grant funds to non-profit organizations that share similar missions and values of service to low-income, vulnerable individuals. The 2010 Fidelis Care Community Grant Fund made grants available, in coordination with Albany Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and his brother bishops, across New York State's eight Roman Catholic Dioceses.

"Fidelis Care has always valued and understood the importance of a strong community presence and enduring partnerships with community organizations that share our healing ministry," said Mark L. Lane, President and CEO. "We are pleased to support such worthwhile programs and services and know that they will benefit local residents within the Diocese. This is the heart of our mission."

Bishop Hubbard said, "On behalf of the Albany Diocese I would, once again, like to express my gratitude to Fidelis Care, our valued and long-time partner in serving the vital needs of our people. It is truly a blessing to have a partner that is dedicated to the ideals of Christian service to all."

Serving 14 counties and providing a wide array of services in areas such as developmental disabilities, caregiver support, outreach, foster care and adoption, homeless shelters, and case management, Catholic Charities is the social service arm of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The agency will use the funding to help operate a Basic Needs Site serving the working poor of Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties. In addition, the grant will support two After School Programs, and 80 one-week scholarships to Camp Scully, providing year-round adult supervised programming to families who typically could not afford to participate in such activities.

St. Mary's Hospital of Amsterdam will utilize their grant to continue and grow their "Promotura" program, and expand the program to become a "HealthCare Navigator" to the broader community. The Promotura offers on-going outreach to Latino residents of the community through a variety of activities and events, with the goal of promoting the importance of primary health services, and preventative care, in a culturally appropriate manner.

Fidelis Care offers free or low-cost health insurance through New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid Managed Care programs. Members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, routine screenings, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care, and more. Fidelis Care also offers a variety of benefit options for seniors through Fidelis Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Fidelis Care at Home programs, available in certain counties.

With more than 725,000 members in 58 counties Statewide, Fidelis Care was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance.

Members have access to a provider network of more than 43,000 health care professionals Statewide. Regional offices are located in Albany, Syracuse, Amherst, and Rego Park (Queens), with satellite offices in Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Suffern.

For more information, call Fidelis Care toll-free at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

-30-