SCAN Celebrates Founders, Community Partners Who Made Organization Possible at 40th Anniversary Event

Reception at Long Beach Museum of Art Pays Tribute to Individuals and Community Groups Committed to Keeping Seniors Healthy and Independent

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Nov.6, 2017—SCAN, a leading senior-focused organization with the mission of keeping seniors healthy and independent, today announced it has honored the organizations and individuals that have contributed to the establishment and success of the organization since its founding in 1977. At a celebratory reception held Nov. 2 at the Long Beach Museum of Art, SCAN commemorated the creation of the Senior Care Action Network forty years ago by a small group of senior advocates in Long Beach. One in a series of 2017 events marking four decades of service to seniors in Southern California and elsewhere, SCAN executives, founders, community partners, and elected and appointed officials gathered to recognize the organizations and individuals who made SCAN’s founding possible.   

“Reflecting over this milestone year, one thing that strikes me is that 40 years ago, Long Beach senior activists and public servants together had the right dream,” said SCAN CEO Chris Wing in his remarks to reception attendees. “It’s so important that seniors have the freedom to live healthy and independent lives. SCAN would not have been able to continue this mission for nearly half a century without the trust, guidance and support of our founders and community partners.”  

During the event, Wing described how twelve Long Beach senior activists were the driving force behind SCAN—an organization created to change the way senior services were delivered. Awards were given to individuals and representatives from organizations whose support was instrumental in the founding and growth of SCAN over the past 40 years.

SCAN presented awards to:

• Lora Connolly, director of the California Department of Aging, accepted on behalf of the State
• City of Long Beach, accepted by Vice Mayor Rex Richardson
• Dignity Health, St. Mary Medical Center
• Former SCAN CEOs Sam Ervin and Dave Schmidt
• SCAN founding employees Dr. Tim Schwab, John Kotick, Jodi Cohn and Gloria Wagstaff
• Ron Cocks, grandson of Cora Cocks, accepting on behalf of his grandmother and the other eleven original senior activists

City Council members Suzie Price, Daryl Supernaw and Stacy Mungo, along with representatives from the U.S. House of Representatives, California Senate, State Assembly and Los Angeles County Supervisor’s office were also present and recognized.

The awards ceremony was the second in a series of three events commemorating SCAN’s 40^th anniversary in 2017. The first was a colloquium, “Aging Reimagined: A Community Approach to Aging and Independence,” co-hosted with the City of Long Beach and Long Beach State University in April 2017. The third event will be SCAN’s sponsorship of “Legacy—A Celebration of Senior Artists,” an art exhibit presented by EngAGE at the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony Nov. 17-30, 2017.

About SCAN

SCAN is a not-for-profit organization committed to keeping seniors healthy and independent. That’s been our mission since our founding in 1977. Today we deliver on that mission through SCAN Health Plan, one of the largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans in the nation. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors, disabled adults and their caregivers. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or facebook.com/scanhealthplan or follow us on twitter @scanhealthplan.

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Media Contact:
Havas Formula
Alison Flood
619-234-0345
scanhealth@havasformula.com

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