Atlanta Educator Kim Bearden Honored as 'Healthy Hero' by AMERIGROUP Foundation

/PRNewswire/ -- The AMERIGROUP Foundation announced today that it is honoring Kim Bearden, co-founder and executive director of Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy, by designating her a "Healthy Hero."

Ms. Bearden is both a senior administrator and classroom teacher at Ron Clark Academy, a nonprofit school that serves financially vulnerable children from Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties. Over the past two decades, she has won numerous educational honors, including the Disney American Teacher Awards Outstanding Middle School Humanities Teacher and Teacher of the Year in Cobb County, Georgia. The Ron Clark Academy encourages academic excellence in its students and trains teachers in innovative instructional methods. As part of its curriculum, the Academy teaches its students how to eat well and develop healthy lifestyles.

"Kim Bearden and the Ron Clark Academy are making an enormous difference in the lives of children in Atlanta," said John E. Littel, Chairman of the AMERIGROUP Foundation. "She and her colleagues have demonstrated that through hard work and innovative thinking they can get tremendous results. We at AMERIGROUP admire her passion, dedication and success."

"We are extremely grateful to AMERIGROUP for emphasizing the importance of healthy living and its effect on helping to build strong communities." Ms. Bearden said. "I am honored to be recognized by such a wonderful organization. Thank you for supporting us in our efforts to create healthy bodies and minds."

The AMERIGROUP Foundation periodically honors "Healthy Heroes" who have made a significant difference in the communities served by its corporate underwriter, AMERIGROUP Corporation, which administers publicly funded healthcare programs such as Medicaid and Medicare for state and federal governments. AMERIGROUP Community Care of Georgia brings healthcare services to about 201,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in Georgia.

To honor Ms. Bearden's service, the Foundation will present a $1,000 contribution to a nonprofit organization she has selected, the Ron Clark Academy.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page