A Minute with Matt
Dear Friends,
We are off to a great start in 2009 as our UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) Regional Boards of Directors work tirelessly to help us provide financial grants to children and their families with compelling medical needs.
We also have put plans in motion to increase awareness of the UHCCF in 20 markets with local news releases supported by radio public service announcements. These actions will generate increased applications for our Foundation.
At the same time, we need to stimulate fundraising so we can accommodate as many grant requests as possible. We have asked our local market leaders in over 30 locations to identify external fund raising events focused on benefiting UHCCF in 2009. They are already enthusiastically responding with ideas and plans. We have set a growth goal to increase our funds available for granting from almost $2 million in 2008 to more than $5 million by 2012.
Most recently, the Key Accounts and Small Business leadership teams held an auction on behalf of UHCCF at their annual meeting. Their camaraderie was evident as these leaders participated in some very spirited bidding and raised more than $31,000 in support of the Foundation's work. A big thanks to all.
In addition to our accelerated external fundraising efforts, we will continue to rely on the generosity of employees whose financial support--through our annual employee giving campaign and the corresponding company match--are the foundation of our fundraising.
Many individuals are part of our UHCCF "army" of workers, most of whom are volunteers and help us in addition to their regular jobs. I am always awed and humbled by all that they do, as we endeavor to enhance the clinical condition and the quality of lives of the many children we serve.
Matt Peterson,
UHCCF President
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
-Mahatma Gandhi
Your Dollars in Action
Moving to More Music
Elijah – Pleasanton, CA
Elijah's family faced a challenge. Elijah, a happy, social 20-month-old boy who has Down syndrome, loves swaying to the beat of music. However, Elijah also was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in his right ear. His audiologist recommended a hearing aid, but unfortunately, it was not covered by his family's medical insurance.
Not long afterwards, Elijah's mother, Pamela, read about UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation in a newsletter she receives for children with special needs. She quickly applied online for a grant for Elijah. "Receiving the grant was the answer to our prayers," she says. Thanks to his new hearing aid, Elijah is now more responsive to people and the sounds of his toys. And, very importantly, is better able to move to his favorite music!
Pamela says that while Elijah's medical condition—and the numerous doctor visits it requires—sometimes takes a toll on her family, they have learned to be more patient in caring for his needs.
"Thank heaven for the Foundation", says Pamela, "and for all the support it gives special needs children and their families." She spreads the word about the Foundation's help to everyone at her church. "We talk it up all the time!"
In One Day, Their Lives Changed Forever
Madeline – Woodbridge, VA
Her name is Madeline and she's a two-year-old girl who loves toys with music and motion and playing with her brothers. She's also a girl with epilepsy. But it wasn't always that way.
By her father's account, Madeline was a normal, happy infant, but at about 10 months, something changed. Her father said, "It was like a light switch went off; she stopped smiling." And she started having seizures. The doctors called it ‘intractable epilepsy' - a form of epilepsy that does not improve with medication. It was a very difficult time for the family. Madeline's father had just been transferred to Florida, so the family was there all alone. Madeline was admitted to the hospital, and ending up staying there for six months. Her mother, who was pregnant with Madeline's little brother, spent all her time at the hospital with Madeline, while family members took turns flying into town to stay with her older brother and help out the family any way they could.
A nurse told Madeline's parents about the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation. Madeline's father did some research, checked out UHCCF's Web site and applied. Less than a month later, the UHCCF Board awarded Madeline's family $1,400 to help pay for Madeline's speech, physical and occupational therapies.
Madeline's father says it's been a tremendous help. As a one-income family with three young children, he says they're very grateful for the help they've received for Madeline's treatments.
Madeline recently celebrated her second birthday. Her family gave her a party with cake and lots of balloons. Happy Birthday, Madeline!
Quest for Independence
Daniel – Crown Point, IN
Daniel is like just about any other four-year-old boy; he's full of energy, wants to know how everything works, sings and dances to music and loves to use his imagination. He also has a bit of a stubborn streak. Unlike most children, Daniel was born prematurely with hemorrhaging on both sides of his brain. As a result, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, as well as apraxis and dysarthria, both conditions that affect his language development. Despite the conditions that affect his movement and speech, Daniel always finds a way to do the same things other children do, including climbing trees, and prefers to do everything "for himself."
One of the keys to Daniel's incredible independence has been the therapies – occupational, physical and speech – he has taken since he was an infant. So, when Daniel's family discovered that their medical insurance wouldn't cover the completion of Daniel's therapies, his mother, Deborah, was fearful that Daniel might lose his momentum. Fortunately, his physical therapist was able to provide her with a list of grant options, including UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation. Deborah says, "The moment I opened the box, I burst into tears. To get that letter and teddy bear took such a weight off my shoulders."
Since receiving the grant, Daniel has made incredible progress. His legs are more flexible, he has mastered the difficult "F + R" sound, and his mom has learned more about how to help his bilateral functioning. "For our family," Deborah emphasizes, "the grant has given us freedom from the stress of thinking Daniel might digress without the help he really needs."
One Family, Two Kids in Need
Jacob and Lauryn – Clarkesville, GA
Jacob is a six-year-old boy who, like most six-year-old boys, likes baseball and riding his bike. Unlike most six-year-old boys, he has epilepsy. His big sister, Lauryn, likes swimming and art; she has diabetes.
Both children have already lived much of their young lives with their diseases: Lauryn was diagnosed when she was two and a half; Jacob's diagnosis came when he was four and a half. Their mom says that Jacob, who has ‘absence' or petit mal seizures, is not aware that he's having them. Doctors are still trying to determine the right medication – and the right dosage – to control his seizures, but she says he handles it all very well. For Lauryn, one of the biggest issues in dealing with diabetes has been all the testing. Eight times a day--throughout the day and night--Lauryn needs to check her blood sugar levels. Her mom says Lauryn sometimes just gets tired of having to do the blood checks. But she has a best friend who is also diabetic, and that helps.
To say that Jacob and Lauryn's mom, Jessica, is busy is a gross understatement. It would be challenging enough to have one child with either of these diagnoses; much more so to have two (did we mention she also has a six-month-old at home?) But Jessica found help for Lauryn and Jacob's medical costs through UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation.
She said a friend told her about UHCCF. Jessica applied online early last summer, and in September was awarded a $1,000 grant for Jacob for blood tests and EEGs, and a $1,500 grant for Lauryn for endocrinologist appointments, insulin and supplies.
Jessica says her family greatly appreciates the grants, especially in these economic times and that receiving the grants has taken a great burden off their family. She says Jacob and Lauryn's medical needs are "a necessity – like food and water to my children," and that the Foundation is a wonderful organization to help with these needs.
Year in Review
The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) had an exciting 2008. We can't think of a better investment than the children in our own communities and we couldn't help them without you. Just look at the good things we accomplished last year:
| Accomplishment | 2008 Amount | Percent Growth over 2007 |
| UnitedHealth Group Giving Campaign contributions to UHCCF | $963,000 | 16% |
| Online applications for medical grants | 1,943 applications | 23% |
| Awarded medical grants | 595 grants | 32% |
| External fundraising events | 12 Events | 33% |
In addition,
- UHCCF was accepted as a 2009 member of Children First - America's Charities. Therefore, we can now fundraise under the Children First - America's Charities' umbrella in national employee giving campaigns in which it participates.
- UHCCF achieved a 63 percent favorability rating to the question, "I understand the mission of the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation" in the Vital Signs employee survey. This is an increase over last survey.
Looking Ahead
As you can see from the chart, in 2008, we realized a 32 percent increase in grants and a 23 percent increase in applications received over 2007. Because of our growth, we are placing a high priority on external fundraising events such golf tournaments and walks/runs. Our ambitious growth goals (granting almost $2 million in 2008 to more than $5 million by 2012) will make fundraising even more important in the future. Our association with America's Charities and the great work done by our business partners will jumpstart our efforts.
As you know, our funding comes in large part from the generosity of the employees of UnitedHealth Group and the corporation's employee giving campaign matching funds program. This makes it especially important that our employees are aware of the work of the UHCCF. If you have any questions about the work of the Foundation or would like to request additional information,
contact us.
We anticipate that 2009 will be a very good year! We invite you to come along with us.
Rockets Run Presented by UnitedHealthcare
On January 31, at 8 a.m., participants gathered in downtown Houston to run the 5K, the 2-mile walk or the Kids 1K. Racers were routed from Toyota Center through midtown Houston and finished on the Houston Rockets basketball court.
One of the recent UHCCF grant recipients, Aaron, had a great time with Clutch and started the race like a pro. Thanks to all the runners who successfully completed the Rockets Run. UHCCF received $10,000 in proceeds from the race.
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation New Year's Eve Parade
and Band Blast
On December 31, the eve of the Outback Bowl, Ybor City, Florida, was the place to be as it was the site of a family celebration featuring the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation New Year's Eve Parade and a pep rally with teams' cheerleaders.
The parade featured floats and twenty marching bands. With all the fans ready to cheer on their teams, it was wonderful opportunity to generate more awareness for the great work UHCCF does nationwide.
Online Support Option Now Available
UHCCF online users now have immediate access to a customer service agent weekdays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. Users can just click on the live support button to begin corresponding with an agent.
Since the launch in early March, UHCCF has received requests about status of grants, questions about the application process and general information inquiries. Watch upcoming issues for more on the success of this great new resource.