Impact Urban America Honors American Specialty Health; Local Company CEO Applauded for Helping to Revive San Diego's Inner City

SAN DIEGO, CA (December 10, 2001) -- George DeVries, president and CEO of American Specialty Health, has received the 21st Century Leadership Award from Impact Urban America (IUA), a non-profit organization working to revitalize San Diego's inner city through job training and placement services.

Co-founded by football legend Rosey Grier and entrepreneur Estean Lenyoun, IUA collaborates with San Diego companies to train and place inner-city residents into temporary and full-time jobs. American Specialty Health has hired more than 100 such employees through IUA and continues to utilize their staffing services on a regular basis. In recognizing his commitment and passion, DeVries was honored for his "outstanding support, mentorship and contribution" to IUA.

"The success of our self-sufficiency model depends on corporate alliances such as the one we've forged with American Specialty Health," said Lenyoun, President and CEO of IUA. "George exemplifies the type of leadership we need to transform urban communities throughout America and enhance society for the better."

"George was one of the first business leaders to support IUA," said Grier. He stepped up, embraced the vision three years ago and has served as a model for how a corporation can assist the inner city by giving residents the opportunity and training to become fully employed.

"American Specialty Health has encouraged the placement of individuals into a broad range of employment, including information systems, customer service and other areas," Grier added. "Together we have demonstrated over the years that the business community is a significant part of the solution in the regeneration of the inner city."

"We are proud to be part of the solution to the challenges facing our inner cities," said DeVries. "This is an important program and one that benefits the individuals, the companies and the entire community of San Diego. Through Impact Urban America, we have been able to fill many positions with motivated and dependable employees who have become important members of our team."

American Specialty Health is the nation's leading complementary health services organization. Based in San Diego, the Company and its affiliates have more than 500 employees and cover more than 60 million members nationwide through various managed benefit, network access and affinity discount programs. The American Specialty Health network includes 19,000 acupuncturists, chiropractors, dietitians and massage therapists, among others. It is the largest such network in the country.

Impact Urban America promotes collaboration between the business community, social services organizations and faith-based organizations to transform America's inner cities. IUA provides employment opportunities through job training, career development, housing and support service referrals, life and accountability skills and economic and business development. The organization's self-sufficiency model has received national attention and earlier this year Grier and Lenyoun were invited to present to the Congressional Committee on Government Reform.