_________

TriWest Healthcare Alliance Makes Record-Setting Contribution to Help Wounded Sailors, Marines Big Step Toward Navy-Marine Corps Ball Committee’s $1 million goal From the left: Rear Admiral Jan Gaudio, USN (Ret) Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society; Society Combat Casualty Assistance Visiting Nurses Rochelle Soto, Kim Bradley, Susan Boyd and Tina Tootle; Admiral Steve Abbot, USN (Ret) President and Chief Executive Officer, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society; 2008 Navy-Marine Corps Ball Chair Vivian Gardner; David J. McIntyre, Jr., President and Chief executive Officer, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.  Arlington, Va. (March 6, 2008) — TriWest Healthcare Alliance made a record-setting contribution today to the 2008 Navy-Marine Corps Ball Committee, which jump starts the Committee’s goal to raise $1 million for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society to use in helping Sailors, Marines and their families. TriWest, a regular contributor to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, contributed $150,000 — three times more than the largest corporate contribution received by this annual ball. Proceeds from the ball will help fund the Society’s programs, including their new Combat Casualty Assistance Visiting Nurses program. “TriWest has really raised the bar with this precedent-setting charitable gift,” said ball chairwoman Vivian Gardner. “My friends told me that setting a $1 million goal was unrealistic, but with this significant donation, my confidence is growing.” The Ball Committee nearly doubled its fund-raising goal this year to meet the growing needs of wounded Sailors, Marines and their families. “We at TriWest are privileged to serve those who are serving us and sacrificing for us in defense of our nation,” said TriWest Healthcare Alliance President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. “We admire the Ball Committee’s ambitious goal and the fine work accomplished by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. We are honored to do our part.” TriWest, which administers the military’s health care plan, TRICARE in 21 western states, has seen first-hand the valuable work performed by the Society’s Combat Casualty Assistance Visiting Nurses, said Society President Steve Abbot. “We are deeply grateful for the confidence reflected in this most generous contribution which continues TriWest’s longstanding support of the Society,” Abbot said. “During 2007, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society helped 1,035 Marines and Sailors injured in Iraq, Afghanistan and at sea in the Arabian Gulf, and their families, and our combat casualty registered nurses will continue to follow them through their long-term rehabilitation. This contribution will help immensely.” About TriWest TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the health care needs of 2.9 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region, the 2007 TRICARE Region of the year. TriWest is a proud Corporate Team Member of America Supports You. Visit www.triwest.com for more information. Updated: 6 March 2008 Return to the Society's "News" page