UnitedHealth HEROES grants available to schools and youth-focused, community-based walking, running or hiking programs
Calling all HEROES: Pennsylvania Youth Invited to
“STEP INTO SERVICE” TO Fight Childhood Obesity
- “UnitedHealth HEROES” grants available to schools and youth-focused, community-based walking, running or hiking programs
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. (Sept. 7, 2012) – Starting today UnitedHealthcare is inviting schools and community-based nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania to “Step into Service” by applying for UnitedHealth HEROES grants.
UnitedHealth HEROES is a wellness initiative designed to encourage young people, working with educators and youth leaders, to create and implement walking, running or hiking programs aimed at helping fight childhood obesity.
Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to youth-led child obesity programs in Pennsylvania that include both an activity in which kids count their steps and a service component that increases awareness, provides direct service, advocates an idea or raises funds. UnitedHealth HEROES activities will begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (Jan. 21, 2013) and end on Global Youth Service Day (April 26-28, 2013).
The application deadline is midnight EST on Oct. 15, 2012. To learn more about the UnitedHealth HEROES program and to apply for a grant, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12 million children in the United States are obese. Healthy habits, including physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing diseases related to being overweight.
“The UnitedHealth HEROES program enables young people to take part in positive change and develop healthy habits, which will affect their well-being while allowing them to give back to their communities,” said Heather Cianfrocco, President, UnitedHealthcare, Northeast region. “We are excited to see the creative ideas young people come up with to help fight obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles.”
“We hope to mobilize youth to take action and address childhood obesity, one of the toughest challenges facing their generation,” said Sue Schick, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania & Delaware. “The UnitedHealth HEROES grant program is part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of obesity and related chronic health problems nationwide.”
Grant recipients will be notified in November. A list of previous grant winners is also available online.
UnitedHealth Group is partnering with YSA (Youth Service America) to launch the fifth year of the UnitedHealth HEROES program. During the first four years of the program, nearly 1,000 UnitedHealth HEROES grants, totaling almost $500,000, have been awarded to groups across the country. This year, the American heart Association’s Walking Paths and OpptumizeMe mobile phone apps will be available for participants to use in their HEROES programs.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
Contact: Mary McElrath-Jones
UnitedHealthcare
(914)552-5713
