Amerigroup Foundation Donates $50,000 to St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amerigroup Foundation today announced that it donated $50,000 to St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk, Virginia.  The money will be used to help build a new facility that will house adults with severe disabilities.

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"We are pleased to have the continuing support of Amerigroup, one of Virginia's leading corporate citizens," said William C. Giermak, CEO of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. "Amerigroup executives have visited St. Mary's Home and gotten to know our mission and the children we serve. We appreciate their personal interest, as well as the company's generosity, that will help adults with severe disabilities receive the same professional, around-the-clock care that St. Mary's is known for providing to children."

St. Mary's currently cares for up to 92 residents, ranging from newborn to 21 years of age. Residents live, play, go to school and receive comprehensive care from top-notch health professionals.  At age 21, state regulations require residents to transfer to a new home. This move is often traumatic, for both the resident and his or her family.  With this new facility, some residents will be able to continue living at St. Mary's.  The new facility will provide housing for 12 adults with severe disabilities, where they will receive the same compassionate, quality care.

"St. Mary's has a long history of caring for our most vulnerable children, and opening its doors to adults with disabilities – who often have few places to go – will have a significant impact," said John E. Littel, chairman of the Amerigroup Foundation. "This new facility will provide a nurturing environment that will allow adults with disabilities to achieve their highest potential.  We are deeply honored to be a part of that."

Amerigroup's donation helped St. Mary's reach the halfway mark of the project's $3 million fundraising goal. Groundbreaking is planned for early summer 2011, and the new home should be ready for residents by summer 2012.

About St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children

The private, nonprofit St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk, Virginia, provides long- and short-term care for Virginia children and young adults, ages newborn to 21, who have severe intellectual and physical disabilities. For more information, visit www.saintmaryshome.org.

About the Amerigroup Foundation

The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup Corporation (NYSE: AGP), a multi-state managed health care company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Foundation works to create healthy communities by fostering access to health care, encouraging safe and healthy children and families, and promoting community improvement and healthy neighborhoods. For more information about the Amerigroup Foundation, visit www.amerigroupcorp.com/foundation. 

SOURCE Amerigroup Foundation