HEALTHFIRST & NUHEALTH SPONSOR THE 2012 NASSAU YOUTH SINGING CONTEST

HEMPSTEAD, NY,October 25, 2012 – Healthfirst and NuHealth/Nassau University Medical Center announced today that they are joining forces again to co-sponsor the third annual 2012 Nassau Youth Singing Contest. Children ages 9-18 who reside in Nassau County are eligible to showcase their singing talent and compete for the grand prize of $600.

Registered contestants will be split into two age groups – youth, ages 9-13 and high school, ages 14-18.  

Those who are selected from the preliminary round will move on to subsequent rounds, culminating with the grand finale on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Circulo de la Hispanidad, 605 Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead, NY. Each age group will be awarded prizes of $600 for 1^st Place, $400 for 2^nd Place, and $300 for 3^rd Place.

“Year after year, this contest provides a platform for the most talented children in the Nassau County area to demonstrate their singing ability and creativity,” said Pat Wang, Healthfirst President and CEO. “The popularity of this contest attests to the importance of providing young people with a venue for creative expression, nurturing childhood development and healthy minds.”

“This contest not only displays 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 closes on October 29, 2012 followed by preliminary rounds. Registered participants may sing in English, Spanish or Creole for five minutes or less. Additional contest rules can be accessed on the Healthfirst website at www.healthfirst.org or the registration hotline at (212) 801-1483.

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.organd 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

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