Grammy-Winning Duo Mary Mary Joins Campaign Reaching Out to Uninsured African-American Children

Grammy-Winning Duo Mary Mary Joins Campaign Reaching Out to Uninsured African-American Children

Covering Kids & Families Promotes the Availability of Low-Cost and Free Health Care Coverage for Millions of African-American Children

Interview Opportunities Available

Washington, DC Press Conference Including Mary Mary for Covering Kids & Families Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 10 A.M. Kennedy Recreation Center - 7th and P Streets, NW

EDITOR: PHOTO AVAILABLE

WASHINGTON, DC -- Mary Mary, the Grammy-winning gospel duo, whose latest self-titled album was just released -- including the hit single Heaven -- will appear at a national press conference to launch the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign, an initiative that informs African-American families about the availability of low-cost and free health care coverage programs for uninsured children.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will kick off its annual Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign in Washington, D.C. in August, with events planned nationwide. Mary Mary -- the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling gospel duo -- will take part in the August launch event as will Willie Colon, one of the godfathers of salsa music. Both Mary Mary and Colon will emphasize the central message of the campaign, which is many African-American and Hispanic working families qualify for low-cost or free health care coverage, but may not realize it.

"Tina and I could not pass up the opportunity to lend our voices to the Covering Kids & Families campaign and help reach African-American families nationwide," said Erica Campbell of Mary Mary. "Children deserve every opportunity to learn and succeed in school, and to do that, we need to ensure they have access to needed medical care."

The campaign encourages parents of America's 8.4 million uninsured children to find out if their children are eligible for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Enrolling eligible children in these programs is an important part of getting them ready to learn in the new school year.

Many parents, especially those who work, may not realize that their children are eligible for this coverage. While income eligibility varies by state, families earning up to $38,000 a year or more may qualify.

Since 1998 the number of uninsured children in America has declined by nearly 2 million. Despite this success, millions remain uninsured. More than 8 out of every 10 African-American children are eligible for, but not enrolled in, low-cost or free health care coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP. Because most eligible children are from working families, their parents may not realize their children could be eligible for this coverage.

This year's campaign focuses on reaching African-American and Hispanic parents whose children are uninsured, but may be eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage. To help reach these families, the campaign has formed an exciting partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS teams across the country will declare a "Children's Health Care Coverage Day" at a home game, promote the 1(877) KIDS-NOW toll-free number on Jumbotrons and in game programs, and distribute information during soccer matches.

Covering Kids & Families will reach millions of families nationwide during August and September by:

* Organizing thousands of activities, including health and enrollment fairs, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to encourage parents to seek information about enrolling their eligible children in Medicaid or SCHIP;

* Encouraging more than 180 national sponsoring organizations -- which include public health, health care, educational, social service and faith-based organizations -- to distribute information through their Web sites, listserv announcements, newsletters, conferences and mailings;

* Forming partnerships with national corporations such as Capital One, Giant Foods LLC, the Kroger Family of Pharmacies and Aramark, among others, to promote messages about the availability of low-cost and free health care coverage on their products and in their consumer communications.

"Covering Kids & Families has assembled an amazingly generous group of celebrities, partner organizations, corporations and volunteers," said Sarah Shuptrine, director of the Covering Kids & Families National Program Office. "We are all committed to urging parents to call 1(877) KIDS-NOW to find out if their children are eligible. These programs can provide the health care that uninsured children would otherwise miss."

Covering Kids & Families operates through statewide and local projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is a National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need -- the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org/.

The Southern Institute on Children and Families, based in Columbia, S.C., serves as the National Program Office for the Covering Kids & Families Initiative. For more information on the Southern Institute on Children and Families, visit http://www.thesoutherninstitute.org/.

CONTACT: Mike Warner, +1-202-745-5109, or Patrick McCabe, +1-202-745-5100, both for Covering Kids & Families.

PRNewswire -- July 28 Website: http://www.rwjf.org http://www.thesoutherninstitute.org

Source: Covering Kids & Families

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