UnitedHealthcare Donates $1 Million to Nonprofits in Virginia

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, is awarding $1 million in Empowering Health grants to six community-based organizations in Virginia to expand access to care and address the social determinants of health for uninsured individuals and underserved communities.

In total, UnitedHealthcare is donating $11 million in grants through its Empowering Health program across 11 states. The grants will assist individuals and families experiencing challenges from food insecurity, social isolation and behavioral health issues, and support local health promotion and health literacy efforts.

Grant recipients in Virginia include:

• Carilion Clinic, Roanoke – $230,000 to introduce the Calm and Safe Classrooms counseling program, which provides solutions and support through LIFT, a community-based health partnership with Fallon Park Elementary, for students who struggle with managing emotions and behavior.
• Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, Northern Virginia – $200,000 to expand Project SHINE (Staying Healthy through Improved Nutrition and Exercise), which delivers culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetes management, chronic disease management, healthy living cohort classes and health promotion information.
• United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg – $200,000 to launch EveryDay Strong, a program that utilizes community partners and trained adults to improve the emotional health of youth and build resilience in ways that make kids feel safe, connected and confident.
• Capital Area Food Bank, Northern Virginia – $160,000 to incorporate medically tailored food options and information about chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, into the online ordering system for food pantry network partners.
• Central Virginia Health Services, Petersburg and Hopewell – $130,000 to hire a community health worker for school-based health centers at local high schools to improve community outreach and health navigation for students and community members.
• Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank – $80,000 to purchase refrigeration equipment for produce-forward programs, such as the Mobile Pantry and OrderAhead.

“Social and economic factors have a profound impact on achieving and maintaining good health,” said Tameeka Smith, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Virginia. “Through our Empowering Health grants and local outreach efforts from UnitedHealthcare, we’re working with local organizations in the state to provide Virginia residents with an interconnected system of clinical and social services that can produce better health outcomes and make the health system work better for everyone.”