UnitedHealth teams up with Make-A-Wish

MINNEAPOLIS – UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), the parent of UnitedHealthcare of New England, today announced a three-year, $4.5 million alliance with the Phoenix-based Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.
The grant is one of the largest in the nonprofit’s 27-year history, and has won UnitedHealth the title of Make-A-Wish Champion.
The money will support the foundation and its mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Each of the 69 Make-A-Wish chapters nationwide will be eligible to receive grant funds for use in granting wishes in their local communities.
“UnitedHealth Group’s substantial commitment is another tremendous acknowledgement that the Make-A-Wish Foundation has earned the trust and support of America’s largest companies,” said David Williams, the foundation’s president and CEO. “Our alliance with UnitedHealth Group will make a truly positive impact in our communities and will bring joy to so many children.”
Since its inception in 1980, the foundation has reached more than 150,000 children nationwide and now fulfills one wish every 41 minutes. Nearly 80 cents of each dollar raised goes directly toward granting children’s wishes.
“Our alliance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation reinforces our overarching commitment as a health and well-being company and the mission we live every day to make a difference in our communities,” said Mike Mikan, UnitedHealth Group CFO and board member of the foundation’s Minnesota chapter. “More importantly, by entrusting this world-class organization to identify children on our behalf, this program gives us a unique opportunity to bring joy to hundreds of individuals and families.”
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and wellness company serving about 70 million people nationwide through its six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services and Ingenix Additional information is available at www.unitedhealthgroup.com.
The Make-A-Wish foundation has been granting children’s wishes since 1980. It now has 69 chapters in U.S. states and territories, including Rhode Island, and grants more than 12,600 wishes per year with the help of nearly 25,000 volunteers. To learn more, visit at www.wish.org.