Shrewsbury resident Kathlene Fournier “pays it forward” with the help of Fallon Community Health Plan
Worcester, Mass., September 5, 2007―Fallon Community Health Plan is taking charitable giving one step further in 2007, and Shrewsbury resident Kathlene Fournier is helping out.
In recognition of the health plan's 30th anniversary, FCHP gave 30 employees $1,000 each to donate to their own favorite charitable cause. The employees, including Fournier, were randomly chosen at an annual employee recognition event held in February. The idea is based on the novel and movie, “Pay It Forward,” in which a social studies teacher challenges his students to come up with a plan that will change the world through direct action.
“We’ve always taken our mission of making our communities healthy very seriously, and by doing this, we’ve given some of our employees an even greater opportunity to be the kind of ‘every day hero’ to our communities that we expect them to be,” said Eric H. Schultz, President and CEO, Fallon Community Health Plan.
Fournier allocated her contribution to Friendly House, Inc., a community-based, human services organization that provides services for thousands of low-income individuals and their families in Worcester. Fournier said the funds will be used specifically for the organization’s Youthoop and Biddy Basketball Program.
“My family has been involved with the Friendly House basketball program for about seven years, and when my name was called, I knew that is where I wanted to donate,” said Fournier. “Friendly House is a warm, welcoming place for anyone who enters, and I’m just thrilled to have been able to give something back to an organization that has given my family so much over the years.”
James E. Williams, Jr., Director of the Youthoop and Biddy Basketball Program at Friendly House said that Fournier’s donation will help purchase new equipment and uniforms for players of the 32 teams that participate in the program. “Uniforms are such a big part of this program, and Kathy’s donation will help us to provide every child with a uniform and much-needed equipment,” said Williams. Funds are also allocated for scholarships to enable children to participate even if they are not able to afford it. “Our program never turns any child away, and these scholarships will provide more opportunity for children who want to participate the means to do so.”
Williams said he can’t thank Fallon Community Health Plan enough for giving Fournier this opportunity through the Pay It Forward Program. “I can’t express my gratitude to the health plan and to Kathy,” he added. “They will never know how grateful I am for their commitment to help us continue to provide healthy activities of these kids.”
Lauren M. DiBenedetto
lauren.dibenedetto@fchp.org
About FCHP
Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan provides health care services designed to meet the unique and changing needs of all we serve. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts that is both an insurer and provider of care. Our insurance and self-insurance product portfolio includes a variety of group and non-group health plan options (HMO, POS, PPO, as well as Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans) featuring flexible and innovative benefit designs. Our uniquely developed provider networks offer high-quality, cost-effective, coordinated care and give our members access to physicians and hospitals throughout Massachusetts. We also offer a broad spectrum of health and wellness services and programs to ensure our members, at every stage of life, remain as healthy and productive as possible. As a provider of care, FCHP operates an advanced and completely integrated program that offers seniors and their caregivers an alternative to nursing home care. Our continued commitment to deliver high-quality health care and exceptional customer service has earned FCHP consistent ratings as one of the nation's top health plans. Both our commercial HMO and Medicare Advantage plans have been awarded "Excellent" accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.