Wings of Hope - June 2010, Volume 6

A Minute with Matt


Dear Friends,


So far this year, our Regional Boards of Directors have provided 180 children with financial grants worth an estimated $595,000.  We have received 500 online applications, a fifty percent increase over the same period one year ago. We are off to a great start in 2010!

To increase awareness of UHCCF, we have put in motion a national press release, supported by radio public service announcements, media articles, interviews and web support. These actions have already generated significant interest in UHCCF.

On the fundraising front, we have sponsored six events thus far including a joint auction and dinner with the Tommy Harris Foundation in Chicago, a dominos tournament in South Florida, the Houston Rockets Run in Texas, a golf tournament in Orlando, and two auctions in conjunction with our regional Echelon broker events in South Carolina and California.  We have 15 additional events planned for the remainder of 2010.  We think it's important to participate, on an ongoing basis, in awareness-raising events such as walks, runs, and health fairs and to promote the Foundation at major sporting events.

We also have a new and exciting fundraising avenue this year.  UnitedHealthcare is the title sponsor for the first-ever UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, presented by Maxxis, owned and operated by Momentum Sports Group.  Throughout the year, the cycling team will help advance UnitedHealthcare's goal of giving back to the communities that it serves.  Through various events, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team will help raise money for UHCCF.

We would like to express our thanks to the many employee volunteers who assist with all of these initiatives by contributing countless hours and boundless energy.  In addition, we continue to be extremely grateful to all of our dedicated board members who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that we continue to award medical grants that enhance the lives of families in need, one child at time.


"I have found that among its other benefits,
giving liberates the soul of the giver."
-Maya Angelou


How to Make a UHCCF Referral

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) needs your help! Do you have a neighbor, friend or colleague who may have a child who could benefit from a UHCCF medical grant? If so, we strongly encourage you to refer them to our web site, www.uhccf.org for more information on the application criteria and how to apply. If you would like a brochure to provide them with, please contact us at the web address below for a complimentary brochure.

http://www.uhccf.org/livesupport.html


Your Dollars in Action


Matt, Sugar Land, TX

Matt


Matt is like many teenagers. He likes to listen to music, play computer games, and ride his bike. But for this young man, the road traveled has not always been smooth or easy. Matt has Asperger’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, suffered the effects from right-sided paralysis when he was born and he was overweight - borderline diabetic, in fact. Matt’s mom, Laurel, knew she had to do something. She applied for and received a grant from UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) for physical therapy and a special three-wheeled bike for Matt.


Laurel says his progress since receiving the grant has been in "leaps and bounds". Matt, who was never able to ride a bike, began riding everywhere. He rode around the neighborhood, to school and even to pick up milk for his mom. As a result of all that bike riding, Matt started losing weight, his muscle tone has increased and his posture has improved.

With the help of physical therapy, Matt’s body awareness has increased and he now stands straighter and taller, has better eye contact, and increased fine and gross motor skills and strength.

His mom said people began noticing the changes right away and complimented him. His increased muscle tone and strength have helped him with another favorite activity of playing in his high school marching band.

Laurel says the grant from UHCCF helped eliminate Matt's diabetes and helped him participate in an activity he really enjoys and helped him find his niche. Laurel also says Matt has developed into an amazing young man who wants to be a chemist and work for the CDC, Pentagon, or NASA. She’s grateful for the grant from UHCCF and tells everyone how it impacted Matt's life, "Before that, we didn’t know what was going to happen with him."

Just look at him now. As his mom describes it, "his progress has been from zero to amazing".


Carson, Tulsa, OK

Carson
Carson is a seven-year-old boy who lives in Oklahoma with his mom, dad and little sister Adrian. He is quite a sportsman who loves to play soccer and basketball and has a green belt in tae kwon do. When Carson was just 10 months old, he had to have tubes put in his ears. These tubes stayed in his ears too long and fell out, leaving a hole that did not close on its own. Chronic ear infections caused some hearing loss. Last September, Carson underwent tympanoplasty surgery to correct this problem.

Tympanoplasty involves rebuilding the eardrum. Cartilage was taken from Carson's ear and grafted over the hole during this outpatient surgery. The hardest part of the recovery for Carson was not being able to participate in any of his activities for six weeks.

This is Carson's first year without ear infections since his birth. He is regaining the hearing loss he has experienced and will continue to improve. Carson can now swim without any worry.

Carson's dad, Todd, learned about the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation while listening to a sports radio program. After discussing it with Carson's mom, Carol, they researched the Web site and applied for a grant. The Foundation provided a $5,000 grant for the surgery. "We are incredibly grateful," says Carol. "It is very frustrating and hard on parents when they are unable to meet their child's needs. This grant has made a big difference in our family and Carson is leading a normal life."



Madeleine, Allenspark, CO

Madeleine
Four-year-old Madeleine has a speech articulation disorder, but that’s not going to stop her from becoming an astronaut when she grows up! Madeleine has been receiving articulation therapy, which consists of drill exercises and various verbal and visual cues, to help her correct sound productions. Improving her articulation and sequencing will help her read more effectively.

Madeleine is very close to her three-year-old sister, Sophie, and they play together constantly. Because Sophie was starting to mimic her big sister's speech, the therapy has been a blessing for Sophie as well.

Kristin, Madeleine's mom, learned about the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation from the internet when she went online looking for assistance for her daughter. "The grant has really been life changing for the family and we have seen huge results from the therapy," says Kristin. "Madeleine was very shy, but since therapy, she has much more self confidence, is learning better and enjoying preschool."


Simon, Kansas City, MO

Simon

We welcome you to watch a of Simon, a five year old boy with autism. The video clip is hosted by NBC Action News, KSHB 41, Kansas City, MO. The video clip should automatically play. If not, the video clip can be accessed at the top right hand corner of the web page.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/content/cfa/story/Medical-Grants-Available-for-Insured-Families/Wu16-uJixE-U1fhKd2NyEg.cspx



Have You Heard?

Information about the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation can now be heard, read and seen all over the nation. Newspaper stories, television and radio segments as well as websites and blogs continue to help spread the word about our child medical grant program with nearly 200 stories appearing throughout the country since January. UHCCF also has a public service announcement which is currently running in all 50 states, on nearly 1,400 radio stations, creating more than 83,000 airings.

Listen to the 30 second clip at:
http://www.uhccf.org/mp3/uhccf_grants_30.mp3

Listen to the 60 second clip at:
http://www.uhccf.org/mp3/uhccf_grants_60.mp3


Statistics Update

In the first quarter of 2010, the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation provided 122 medical grants worth an estimated $400,000. The top five medical conditions were:

 


The top five medical treatments to treat these conditions were:

 

 

Online Store - A Sale!


UHCCF is pleased to offer ladies' Izod polo shirts in polyester pique. These chrome blue shirts feature a knit collar with a clean-finished placket, perfect for a business-casual outing.
Izod polo shirts
 

Also new to the store are Gripwrite ball point pens. These cushion gripped pens with a heavy duty clip are just the thing for your upcoming meetings.
Gripwrite ball point pens
 

 

Kids' butterfly t-shirts are still on sale so stock up now. Need a cap for the summer? We have the perfect one.