CareMore Launches New Foundation to Help Support Local Non-Profit Senior Based Groups

By Brian Hews

A little under two years ago, a few employees from CareMore entered into the CEO’s office with an idea.
“We love our seniors, we love the community, but we need to figure out a way to mobilize money and our staff equally to serve others in the areas we serve” they said.
With that, the CareMore Foundation was established with one sole mission, to give back to those truly in need.
“The CareMore Foundation was an idea of our employees, management only facilitated its formation”, said Leeba Lessin, CEO of CareMore Health Plan. “That same group of people have taken the ball and run with it.”
The Foundation recently announced that its first major project for 2011 will focus on senior hunger, especially in these dire economic times of $5 a gallon gasoline and out of control food costs.
“Countless numbers of our local seniors go hungry, sadly it is becoming a daily reality for many,” said Lessin. “Seniors who don’t get enough to eat, or don’t have the money for food or who cannot get to the store for food often have compromised health due to their nutritional limitations. We want to help improve these dire hunger statistics in the communities where we provide medical care to so many seniors already.”
Case workers at CareMore validated that statement after conducting a recent survey.
"We can really help with providing food, so we wanted to make that the main mission of the CareMore Foundation,” said Lessin.
Initially the group will provide grants to local senior-focused non-profit organizations but that resources and volunteer support from the staff at CareMore will soon follow.
CareMore has made a $250,000 donation to the “kick start” the Foundation and applications will be available soon for local community based non-profit groups to participate.
Members of the CareMore Foundation Board of Directors include:
Alan Hoops, John Kao, Leeba Lessin. Advisory Committee Charlene Colbert, county of Pima; Gail Holmes, Stanislaus; Susan Mora, Orange County; Karen Riggs, Cerritos; James Rose, Cerritos; Erika Tigno, Cerritos and Jeffrey Tipton, Cerritos.
Regional Leadership includes Leticia Aceves, San Bernardino; Cheri Brown, Stanislaus; Reggie Casilang, Rachel Cruz, Charla Hawkins and Kerry Sequeira, LA/OC; Diana Garrido and Cindy Lynch, Clark; Scott Mancuso, Maricopa; Dan Peterson, Pima; Beje Schweitzer, Santa Clara and Theresa Weaver, Riverside.
It is anticipated that these leadership groups will be expanding over the next several months to include additional local community leaders.
The main purpose is about “giving” but other possible projects could include pilot projects such as how certain new drugs work on seniors. “The possibilities are endless,” said Erika Tigno, Chair of the CareMore Advisory Group.
Tigno , a long time resident of Cerritos and CareMore employee has a “keen insight” on the real needs for seniors right here in our neighborhoods.
Additional details will be announced here in the Los Cerritos Community News in the next few weeks. For more information call Kristen at CareMore at (562) 622-2807.