wings of hope - UnitedHealthcare Children`s Foundation

Winter 2016 | Volume 1
WINGS OF HOPE
A Minute With Matt
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A Minute with Matt
Dear Friends,
A Holiday Campaign
Worth Celebrating
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There is nothing more gratifying than the letters and photos we get from the families
and children we serve – whose lives have been enriched by their medical grants. We
received many in 2015, proving that it was a productive year for the UnitedHealthcare
Children’s Foundation (UHCCF). Let’s take a look at the progress we made as a result
Events Across
The Country
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of your generous donations:
•
The Foundation awarded 1,992 medical grants worth more than $4.8 million.
•
During the annual Giving Campaign, over 9,000 employees pledged more than
$1.67 million. The Giving Campaign is vital to the Foundation as it accounts for
Thank You Note &
Tickets for Hope
nearly two-thirds of UHCCF grant funds.
•
grant achievement, UHCCF is launching a year-long 10,000 Smiles campaign to
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make an even larger impact in 2016.
•
AmazonSmile &
Delivering Grins
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We awarded our 10,000th grant in September 2015. To celebrate the 10,000th
We hosted fundraiser events nationwide. In the past few months, UHCCF
participated in events in Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North
Carolina and Texas to name a few. We have many more events scheduled this year!
•
We released “Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday” (the third in the storybook
series), new plush toys, and two “Little Book - Big Laughs” joke books (riddles and
knock-knocks). All are available from Amazon and proceeds fund UHCCF medical
UHCCF Products
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grants. See page 6 for more information.
Our goal is to increase the number of grants we award every year and 2016 will be
extremely exciting as we expand our awareness and fundraising efforts. Be sure to
check out the UHCCF event calendar and participate in a fundraising event near you!
Finally, a special thank you to our dedicated employees, board members and our
many friends who volunteer their time and talents to advance the work of UHCCF.
Matt Peterson
UHCCF President
Visit UHCCF.org
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Wings Of Hope
Winter 2016 | Volume 1
A Holiday Campaign
Worth Celebrating
Throughout November and December, UHCCF actively promoted its holiday
fundraising efforts, which included retail items available on Amazon, an
online holiday auction and promotion of the Grins2 program.
Grins2 Program
As part of the 2015 Holiday Fundraising Campaign, UHCCF promoted its
Grins2 program in November and December. This program encourages
supporters to purchase and donate Grins to Go bags for children in
local hospitals. The program simultaneously benefits two children with every
bag distributed. One child receives a dose of laughter and inspiration through
the gifts in the bag, and a second child is impacted through a UHCCF medical
grant – made possible by Grins to Go proceeds.
More than 330 bags were purchased and distributed to children in need of
a smile at over 110 hospitals nationwide in December alone! We are grateful
to all who participated in this program, and remind you that this is not just
a seasonal program – a smile is a welcome gift any time of the year! And
now you can donate directly to hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses
nationwide through our website at uhccf.org/grins2program.
Holiday Gift Sales
Retail sales of products available on Amazon resulted in more than
$30,000 in sales throughout 2015. All proceeds go toward funding future
UHCCF medical grants for kids. We are very encouraged to see the interest
in these products!
Online Holiday Auction
The holiday auction successfully raised $11,357 for the Foundation, sold
479 items, and engaged 334 bidders. Thank you to all who participated!
Mazda Drive for Good
This year’s event
raised over
$31,000 for the
Foundation.
Thank you to our
friends at Mazda!
Visit UHCCF.org
UHCCF and Mazda teamed up again in December for the 5th Annual Drive
for Good event where every customer purchasing or leasing a Mazda has
the opportunity to direct a $150 donation to UHCCF. The locations included:
•
Walser Burnsville Mazda
•
Polar Mazda
•
Morrie’s Minnetonka
•
Morrie’s Inver Grove
•
Luther Mazda
•
Eich Mazda
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Wings Of Hope
Winter 2016 | Volume 1
Events Across the Country
2015 Velo & Vines participants enjoy a beautiful day. Registration for the
2016 ride is now open. Click here for more information!
Look for Fundraisers at a Location Near You!
UHCCF’s accomplishments are possible because of the people who help us put on
great events. We owe a debt of gratitude to our committed partners and many
friends who volunteer their time and talents to advance the UHCCF mission. Several
2016 events are already on the calendar and many more are currently in the
planning process. We hope to see you at a UHCCF event in your area.
•
Delivering Grins for UnitedHealthcare Community and State Texas Healthplan
Operations (Feb 17, Marian Cabanillas, Tania Dixon and Jane’l Davis)
•
Louisiana Golf (April 4, Ayn Cook)
•
Delivering Grins for UnitedHealthcare Sales University (May 4, David Lewis,
Holly Vaughn, Liz Calzadilla-Fiallo)
Jayden, a
grant recipient,
enjoying a ride
at one of the
Golf Classic
events.
Visit UHCCF.org
•
New Jersey Wine Tasting (May 4, Maria Daniele-Pomponio)
•
Tampa Wine Tasting (May 19, Cristina Howell, Pam Wysocki)
•
Fort Myers Fishing Tournament (May 20, Don Reilly)
•
Velo & Vines California Century Ride (June 11, Jennifer Roberts)
•
Minnesota Century Ride (July 24, Jeff Meyerhofer)
•
Minnesota Golf Classic at Hazeltine National (July 25, Scott Otto)
•
Connecticut Golf Classic (Sept 26, Maria Daniele-Pomponio)
•
Maryland Golf Classic (Oct 10)
•
Nevada Teddy Bear Run (Sept TBD, Michelle Mascella, Don Giancursio)
If you would like to attend or volunteer for an event, please contact
Scott Otto at [email protected] for additional information.
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Wings Of Hope
Winter 2016 | Volume 1
Thank You Note - Connor
“Every time we look at this picture we are reminded of the blessing of
Connor’s grant for his doc band. How do we thank you enough? We
pray daily that your organization is able to continue to bless others,
like you have blessed our son and us. Thank you from the bottom of
our hearts!”
Steve, Katie and Connor
Tickets for Hope
Grant
recipient,
Connor
Give Back While Having Fun
UHCCF has partnered with tix4cause to give you access to discounted
event tickets for concerts, sporting events, theater performances,
exhibitions and more! Through tix4cause, you can do the things you love
and give back at the same time. tix4cause has tickets to events and
venues across the country, so visit the site to view their wide inventory in
your region and select UHCCF as the benefiting charity!
All proceeds from donations and ticket purchases made through the
Tickets for Hope program go directly to supporting UHCCF medical
grants for kids. Ticket sales in 2015 generated more than $26,000 for the
Foundation, proving that where you buy your tickets really does matter!
Visit UHCCF.org
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Wings Of Hope
Winter 2016 | Volume 1
AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support UHCCF
every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com,
you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping
experience as Amazon.com – but with the added bonus that Amazon will
donate a portion of the purchase price to UHCCF.
Click on the link below to begin using AmazonSmile in support of UHCCF.
Remember, if you want Amazon to donate to the charity you’ve selected, you
need to start each shopping session here, which you can bookmark for all
your shopping needs.
Learn more about AmazonSmile
Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSmile and the AmazonSmile logo are trademarks of Amazon.com
Inc. or its affiliates.
Delivering Grins
Program
®
In September, the UnitedHealthcare Central/North Florida sales staff took a
break from their off-site team meeting to participate in a UHCCF Delivering
Grins program. The heart of the Delivering Grins program is the Grins to
Go gift bag filled with toys, games and activities. The team assembled over
100 Grins to Go gift bags which donated to children in Florida Hospital and
Tampa General Hospital.
While the bags assembled by the Central/North Florida sales team were
donated to hospitalized children, these gift bags are a great boredom buster
for any child. Grins to Go bags can be purchased on Amazon.com and all
proceeds benefit UHCCF. Heartfelt thanks to David Lewis, CEO Central/
North Florida Health Plan and his team of volunteers who helped make
this event happen!
Visit UHCCF.org
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Wings Of Hope
Winter 2016 | Volume 1
UHCCF Products
Oliver & Hope Award-Winning
Storybook Series
Oliver & Hope’s Amusing Adventure (1st in series)
Oliver & Hope’s Adventure Under the Stars (2nd in series)
Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday (3rd in series)
Now available in paperback as well as hardcover!
Oliver & Hope Series of Super-Soft
Plush Toys
• Chewie the English bulldog
• Oliver the teddy bear
• Charlotte the fox
• Millie the barn owl
• Hugo the dragon
“Little Book – Big Laughs” Joke Books
Three hilarious books are now available, (jokes, riddles and
knock-knock jokes). In late March, they will also be available
for purchase in a boxed set!
Spot it! Adventure Fun Card Game
This high-speed, easy-to-learn matching game includes 55
custom-illustrated washable and waterproof cards, rule sheet
and a handy mesh travel bag.
Grins to Go Bag
Perfect for birthday, holiday and get-well gifts. Designed for children
between the ages of 4-12, this bag includes toys, games and activities
for hours of enjoyment.
Visit UHCCF.org
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