CHF Honors Children's Health Champions at Annual Benefit

Artists Bette Midler and Paul Simon To Perform

NEW YORK, June 10, 2011/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Health Fund (CHF) will honor two champions of children's health care at its annual benefit June 13. Artists Bette Midler and Paul Simon will perform during the event.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091204/DC21355LOGO)

The Starr Foundation and its Chair Maurice R. Greenberg will be presented with CHF's Founders' Award. Priyan Fernando, Executive Vice President, Global Business Services, will accept CHF's Corporate Award on behalf of American Express.

"Our honorees' support has made a tremendous difference in the lives of the disadvantaged children our programs serve," said Irwin Redlener, M.D., CHF co-founder and president. "Their commitment to comprehensive and continuous health care has enabled CHF to develop and enhance its national network of pediatric programs."

The Founders' Award recognizes philanthropists and individuals who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to Children's Health Fund's mission. The Corporate Award recognizes corporate leaders whose companies and employees are dedicated to children's health and have made significant investments in CHF's programs.

Greenberg is being honored for his longtime leadership support of CHF through The Starr Foundation. Since 2004, The Starr Foundation's generosity has helped CHF to significantly expand services at its flagship program in New York, including the school-based health center in Harlem, the mobile medical program serving homeless families across the city, and the health center in the South Bronx. In addition, CHF was able to create, evaluate and replicate effective models of care in New York and across the nation with assistance from The Starr Center for Preventive Health and Special Initiatives.

"I understand the numerous barriers many families face in accessing high-quality health care," said Greenberg. "It's a privilege to help ensure that no child goes without the preventive care or treatment that he or she needs to stay healthy."

For 160 years, American Express has provided service and engagement in communities around the world. Through its 20-year investment in CHF, American Express has helped thousands of medically underserved children get the essential health care services they need.

"American Express is proud to partner with CHF to protect our nation's most vulnerable children," said Fernando. "We look forward to continuing to help provide comprehensive health care to children across the country, regardless of their ability to pay."

More than one in five children in the United States lives below the poverty line, and many more live in low-income families. Without affordable access to health care, these children face long-term physical and mental health consequences, many of which could be prevented. CHF helps families overcome financial, transportation and other barriers to health care through its network of fixed-site and mobile medical clinics.

Children's Health Fund

Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, M.D., Children's Health Fund (CHF) is the nation's leading pediatric provider of mobile-based health care for homeless and low-income children and their families. CHF's mission is to bring health care directly to those in need through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to health care for all children. CHF currently has 50 mobile medical clinics serving hundreds of locations across the country. Over the past 24 years, the organization has supported more than two million health care visits for disadvantaged children, often in places where doctors and health care providers are in short supply. For more information about CHF, visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.

SOURCE Children's Health Fund

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