Healthfirst and NuHealth Sponsor the 2012 Nassau Youth Singing Contest Grand Finale

HEMPSTEAD, NY, December 1, 2012 – Healthfirst and NuHealth/Nassau University Medical Center host the grand finale of the third annual 2012 Nassau Youth Singing Contest today at Circulo de la Hispanidad in Hempstead, NY (605 Peninsula Boulevard) at 1:00pm. A total of 24 finalists, ages 9-18, will compete for the grand prize of $600 for 1st Place, $400 for 2nd Place, and $300 for 3rd Place. Finalists compete in two age groups: youth 9-13 and high school 14-18. Celebrity guest judges include WBLS-FM radio personality Déjà Vu and Drew, veteran music producer.

Nassau Youth Singing Contest event organizers are also showing support for Hurricane Sandy victims by collecting donations of canned goods, clothing and other necessary items. A special presentation will be made to the Mineola-based nonprofit, Island Harvest, who will collect the donations for distribution to residents of hardest hit areas in Long Island such as Long Beach and Far Rockaway.

“This contest is a testament to the tremendously talented youth that reside in Nassau County,” said Paul Portsmore, Healthfirst SVP of Business Development. “Working in tandem with NuHealth, we are honored to bring this important event back for a third year for children to display their musical talent and originality.”

“This contest not only highlights the creative talent of Nassau County’s youth, but also presents a forum for them to learn sportsmanship and comradery,” said Arthur A. Gianelli, NuHealth President and CEO. “As a health partner in the community, we are pleased to extend our reach to tomorrow’s future in the spirit of healthy competition.”

Registration for the contest closed in October 2012 with almost 200 registrants. Contestants sing their song choice in English, Spanish or Creole for five minutes or less. Additional information on the contest can be accessed on the Healthfirst website at www.healthfirst.org.

About Healthfirst
Established in 1993, Healthfirst is a not-for-profit managed care organization that offers low or no-cost health insurance to eligible individuals and families living in the New York metropolitan area and New Jersey. It provides a variety of government-sponsored health insurance programs, including New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid, as well as Medicare Advantage. The Healthfirst family of companies includes Healthfirst in New York, Healthfirst NJ in New Jersey, and Senior Health Partners (SHP), a managed long term care plan serving Medicaid-eligible clients in New York City. For more information, visit the company's websites at www.healthfirst.org and www.healthfirstnj.org.            

About NuHealth
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau University Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access. For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.

Contact:
Laura Vialva
212-801-1451

718-764-3517
Lvialva@Healthfirst.org

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