UPMC Health Plan Diversity & Inclusion Council Launches Diversity Book Drive

Erie, PA (Nov. 10, 2022) – Working with four regional literacy organizations across Pennsylvania, the UPMC Health Plan Diversity and Inclusion Council today invited community members to join the Council's diversity book drive to provide community literacy organizations with increased access to diverse and inclusive literature.

"UPMC Health Plan recognizes that communities that support diversity and inclusion are healthy communities – and we invite interested individuals to join us in our drive to expand diverse reading resources for local children," said K. Gibbons, Diversity & Inclusion Book Drive Project Lead, UPMC Health Plan. “Diversity in literature introduces children of all ages to a world beyond their neighborhood, and representation in literature helps children feel recognized and validated."

According to Marissa Thomas, Executive Director of the Youth Literacy Project, "We are concerned with improving the reading skills of youth in grades K-8, and this includes introducing interesting and diverse material youth may not have access to if not for efforts like the UPMC Book Drive." The books are sent to YLP for distribution and are used as part of their Project 200 Mentor Model. “Our mentors use the books when assigning extra curriculum reading to the youth," said Thomas.

Books will be available for purchase via Amazon gift lists and are specific to the needs and recommendations of each organization. Regionally suggested books to contribute are listed below by each regional partner.

• American Literacy Corporation (Harrisburg)
• Mighty Writers (Philadelphia)
• Reading Is Fundamental (Pittsburgh)
• Youth Literacy Project (Erie)

The book drive will run until December 1, 2022, and local organizations will distribute the books to the children they serve.

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The UPMC Insurance Services Division serves more than 4 million members and is owned and operated by UPMC, a world-renowned health care provider and insurer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The UPMC Insurance Services Division provides commercial products through UPMC Health Plan for both groups and individuals. Its commercial products also include workers' compensation and employee assistance from nationally known Workpartners®. Government products include Medicare Advantage plans (UPMC for Life); special needs plans for those who are eligible for Medicare and Medical Assistance (UPMC for Life Complete Care and UPMC Community HealthChoices); a Medical Assistance plan (UPMC for You); and Children's Health Insurance Program plans (UPMC for Kids). Community Care Behavioral Health Organization—one of the nation's largest nonprofit managed care behavioral health organizations—is also part of the Insurance Services Division. Community Care offers a full range of services to commercial and Medical Assistance members. For more information, visit upmchealthplan.com.