The Independent Health Foundation's Good for the Neighborhood ® initiative has been named a winner of the 2007 Community Leadership Award from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Foundation, a national association that recognizes leading programs and practices in the health care industry. One of only three health plans honored nationwide, the Independent Health Foundation received the award tonightat the 2007 AHIP Foundation's Annual Innovation and Excellence Dinner in Washington, D.C.

This honor salutes the Independent Health Foundation's efforts to improve the health and wellness of thousands of people throughout some of Western New York's most at-risk communities. Good for the Neighborhood, which began in May 2006, is offered on the East and West Side of Buffalo, the City of Niagara Falls, and the Seneca Nation of Indians, and helps thousands of people to manage and improve their overall health.

"Independent Health Foundation's Good for the Neighborhood program demonstrates their long-term commitment to providing better health care in their communities," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP. "By partnering with local communities through education and outreach initiatives, they are encouraging individuals be more actively involved in their own health care."

Each year, academic and philanthropic leaders examine the vast array of services offered by AHIP member companies and choose the very best to be honored at the annual awards dinner. The Community Leadership Awards showcase organizations that demonstrate excellence in community outreach by identifying a specific problem in their community, establishing creative paths to address the problem, and successfully leading community partnerships toward collaborative solutions.

"Being recognized by a well-respected national organization such as AHIP is a great honor for our Good for the Neighborhood initiative," said Dr. Michael Cropp, President and CEO, Independent Health. "Through our partnerships, the Foundation has helped provide relevant health education and support programs to our medically underserved neighbors. Realization of our vision, to be the recognized leader in delivering solutions that improve the health of our community, will be built upon this type of partnership and community engagement."

The primary goals of Good for the Neighborhood are to encourage residents to develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor; to encourage healthier eating habits; to emphasize the importance of keeping a regular physical fitness routine; and to encourage smokers to quit and non-smokers not to start.

Ongoing programs and activities include Weight Watchers classes, individual fitness programs for children and adults, women and senior education workshops, health screenings, Q&A sessions with medical professionals and pharmacists, healthy cooking seminars, childhood immunizations, and more.

Good for the Neighborhood partner organizations include American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, Seneca Diabetes Foundation, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, University at Buffalo Medical School, Buffalo Urban League, and Weight Watchers. Major funding is provided by Astra Zeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and LeadSafe Erie County.

America's Health Insurance Plans is the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. The association's goal is to provide a unified voice for the health care financing industry, to expand access to high quality, cost effective health care to all Americans, and to ensure Americans' financial security through robust insurance markets, product flexibility and innovation, and an abundance of consumer choice.