Healthfirst Sponsors The Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Classic
January 9, 2012
Laura Vialva
212-801-1451
718-764-3517 (mobile)
Lvialva@healhfirst.org
NEW YORK, NY, January 9, 2012 – On Monday, January 16th, Healthfirst, a not-for-profit managed care organization that provides affordable healthcare coverage to residents of New York and New Jersey, will sponsor the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr., (MLK) Basketball Classic at the Brownsville Recreation Center (BRC), 1555 Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn.
The MLK Basketball Classic was created by Greg “Jocko” Jackson, Executive Director of BRC and former NY Knick, as a showcase for middle and high school youth to display their athletic talent before a host of coaches from some of the best high schools in the metropolitan area. Healthfirst is sponsoring the event as part of their Healthfirst Healthy Living community health education program.
“We are pleased to sponsor this basketball tournament and other sports activities throughout the metropolitan area to support our youth and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyles through physical activity, wholesome eating, and other wellness initiatives,” said George Hulse, Healthfirst Vice President of External Affairs. “Through partnerships such as this one with the Brownsville Recreation Center, we seek to encourage our youth to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles through health awareness.”
Monday’s game will feature middle school boys (grades 7 and 8), starting with an All-Star game at 12:00 noon and concluding with the championship game at 3:00pm. Several elected officials and notable former NBA players are expected to be in attendance at this annual event. The classic is free to the public with doors opening at 11:30am. For additional information or directions, please call Donna Gray, Deputy Center Manager, at 718-485-4633.
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.
