UnitedHealthcare Awards $120,000 in Grants to Five Community Organizations in Michigan

• Grants ranging from $18,000 to $27,000 will support programs that increase physical activity among Michigan children and families

UnitedHealthcare awarded five grants totaling $120,000 to five community organizations aimed at increasing regular physical activity among Michigan children and families.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support these organizations that are launching creative programs to help people across the state improve their health and well-being,” said Dennis Mouras, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan.

The five grant recipients include:

• Headwaters Land Conservancy, Gaylord, $18,000 (www.headwaterslandconservancy.org) – The Conservancy, in partnership with Kids Outdoor Ostego, will offer the “Families Outdoor – Fun and Active” program with year-round activities that encourage local families to be physically active.
• National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Flint, $21,000 (www.nkfm.org/) – In partnership with Hamilton Community Health Network (HCHN), the Foundation will offer a physical fitness program to Flint-area adults.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, $27,000 (www.bgcbh.org) – The Club will offer physical activity sessions, Get-Fit Challenge activities, weekly basketball leagues and the Triple Play program, which encourages healthy habits, good nutrition and physical fitness, to more than 1,000 children.
• Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities, Dearborn & Detroit, $27,000 (www.lahc.org) – LAHC will train 30 teachers to lead classroom physical activity breaks with more than 700 students and conduct an eight-week activity and healthy-eating program for 180 parents to help families increase their physical activity.
• Crim Fitness Foundation, Flint, $27,000 (https://crim.org/) – Crim will offer a weekly walk-to-school program for students, and group bike rides and community-garden activities for adults.

Engaging in regular physical activity is vital to maintaining health and wellness, yet many Michigan residents do not achieve recommended levels. According to United Health Foundation’s America’s Health RankingsTM, more than 25 percent of Michigan adults are considered physically inactive, meaning they report doing no physical activity or exercise such as running or walking other than their regular job in the last 30 days.

UnitedHealthcare established the grant program in July following two community brainstorming sessions with health and wellness stakeholders to discuss opportunities to increase regular exercise in Michigan.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 850,000 people in Michigan enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid benefit plans with a network of 167 hospitals, and nearly 36,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.

About UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare 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, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 1 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

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UnitedHealthcareTony Marusic, [e-mail]