Local Resident to be Honored on WCBS-TV Channel 2 Program

TRENTON, N.J., February 28, 2002 -

Jesus Mercado Jr., of Newark, N.J., will be featured on WCBS-TV New York, Channel 2 on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. in the program "Fulfilling the Dream." The half-hour special honors the tri-state area's distinguished community leaders and organizations whose work is fulfilling the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mercado, a hospital account executive for Horizon/Mercy, New Jersey's largest managed healthcare organization serving the publicly insured, is one of 10 individuals or organizations being honored for the contributions made to their communities. CBS-2 anchors Ernie Anastos and Dana Tyler will host the program.

Mercado is being honored for his volunteer work with several organizations in Newark including the United Way of Essex and West Hudson and the Leadership Newark program. He is Chairman and one of the founders of the Young Leaders Society of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson counties. In addition, Mercado was instrumental in raising funds for the United Way's Bridges to Success program, which is designed to focus on at-risk youth. This program provides children and teens ages 7 to 19, with the tutoring and other services needed to help them make a successful transition to higher education or the workplace. Another program Mercado volunteers with is the Celebrity Read program, which Horizon/Mercy has co-sponsored in the past. In this program, celebrities and professionals volunteer in schools to read to students and tell them about their careers.

"I feel that it is a huge privilege being selected, knowing the caliber of the other honorees," said Mercado. Along with the other nine honorees, Mercado was honored by WCBS at a special awards ceremony on Thursday Feb. 21.

Fulfilling the Dream originated in 1995. Nominations are solicited by the station throughout the year. A committee of community leaders assists in the final selection of the honorees drawn from hundreds of entries received from across the tri-state area.

Horizon/Mercy is New Jersey's largest managed healthcare organization serving the publicly insured, providing healthcare services to more than 270,000 people in all 21 New Jersey counties. With headquarters located in Trenton, N.J., the organization is a partnership of Horizon Healthcare of NJ, Inc., a subsidiary of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (HBCBS), and Mercy Health Plan, a subsidiary of Mercy Health System.