One of our major goals as an organization is to improve the health of the community we serve. This includes, first and foremost, our commitment to make high-quality health care available to the community by offering a network that includes western Pennsylvania’s finest medical facilities and physicians. In addition, we sponsor fundraising and other events in support of community health-related organizations. In 2002, we sponsored more than 50 community organizations and events.

Ahmad Shareef, director of the Homewood-Brushton Athletic Association, appreciates the Health Plan’s presence in the community. He welcomes our support of smoking cessation and mentoring programs, sports activities for children and adults, and community festivals in the inner-city neighborhood where his association is located.

“The Health Plan really helps. They’re just outstanding people,” Mr. Shareef says.

Jack Shea, from the vantage point of his involvement with both labor organizations and the community, values the benefits UPMC and the Health Plan have brought to this region. Mr. Shea serves as president of the Allegheny County Labor Council and is also a member of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s board of directors, where he serves on its community health committee.

“Through my many years as a labor union leader, our members have received a tremendous amount of support from UPMC, not only through the jobs it creates but through its role as a world-class health care system and through its subsidiary, the fast-growing UPMC Health Plan,” he says.

“It was only natural that when our members had the opportunity to make a choice about health benefits, my thoughts turned to UPMC Health Plan,” he says. “It had to be one of the options.”

Carole McMahon also believes the Health Plan makes an important contribution to the community. “The Health Plan has always been there for me,” says Ms. McMahon, executive director of Genesis of Pittsburgh, a social services agency that provides a broad spectrum of programs and services for pregnant women, children, and adoptive families.

“When it came to health insurance for Genesis employees, we thought of UPMC Health Plan immediately,” she says. “It offers an excellent, cost-effective alternative to other health care providers. It’s competition. I hope that competition will some day help control the cost of health care.”