More than 300 students in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties receive drawstring backpacks, school supplies from MDwise

7/9/2015

INDIANAPOLIS – For six years now, the MDwise Tools for Schools program has been donating drawstring backpacks and school supplies to students at back-to-school events across Indiana. This year, the organization is donating more than 10,000 backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, erasers and crayons.

Locally, more than 300 students throughout Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties will be receiving donations. The organizations receiving backpacks to be given away at back-to-school events include:

Covering Kids and Families of Northeast Indiana
Greater Holy Temple Church of God in Christ
Healthlinc Mishawaka
Indiana Health Center South Bend

“Success in the classroom begins with the proper supplies,” said Katherine Wentworth, Interim President and CEO of MDwise. “Our Tools for Schools program helps ensure young Hoosier students have the tools they need to thrive and grow in the classroom and beyond.”

Through its Tools for Schools program, MDwise offers a solution for families that need assistance purchasing much-needed school supplies. Because children spend a majority of their time growing up in school, MDwise strives to make classroom experiences as meaningful and constructive as possible by ensuring students have the tools they need to learn.

MDwise Tools for Schools is part of Ms. Bluebelle’s Club for Kids, MDwise’s comprehensive program that promotes the healthy well-being of Hoosier children through special activities and outreach.

# # #

About MDwise

MDwise is an Indiana-licensed nonprofit health maintenance organization offering health care benefits to 300,000 Medicaid members. Since 1994 MDwise has provided access to compassionate, high-quality, coordinated health care and education to Medicaid members in communities throughout Indiana.

MDwise is a provider-owned health plan with a large network of doctors, specialists and hospitals located throughout the state. By meeting the basic requirements of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA’s) rigorous standards for consumer protection and quality improvement, MDwise was awarded NCQA’s accreditation status of Accredited for service and clinical quality. Ninety-seven percent of MDwise members surveyed would recommend MDwise to their family and friends. For more information, visit MDwise.org.

APO0012 (6/15)