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UnitedHealthCare chips in to supports St. Malachy’s School and its Blessing in a Backpack program



05/14/2015

UnitedHealthCare partners with Kyle Long to renovate St. Malachy’s School’s playground as well as to support their Blessing in a Backpack program wherein every weekend, the school’s children are provided healthy and nutritious food.


So as to support bright students from low-income families at St. Malachy School, which is located on the western side of Chicago, UnitedHealthCare has teamed up with Chicago Bear’s Pro Bowl lineman, Kyle Long.

Starr Park, St. Malachy’s School playground needed a fresh coat of paint and its dilapidated structures needed bolstering. UnitedHealthCare’s $22,000 donation routed through Dreambuilders Foundation, helped speed up the much needed renovation. Amongst others it will include, improvements to the park’s playground equipment, site lighting, landscaping, creation of walking paths, and a fun-filled water-spray feature.

The donation also supports St, Malachy’s Blessing in a Backpack program. In this program, every Friday afternoon nutritious food is provided to 125 students, thus ensuring that they have healthy nutritious food at School, every weekend.

“Keeping kids healthy in Chicago is of vital importance, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this effort than UnitedHealthcare,” said Kyle Long. He went on to add, “The renovation at Starr Park will give the students at St. Malachy a fun, new place to play and stay active, and the food we give the kids each Friday through Blessings in a Backpack will make sure they get the nutrition they need when they are not in school.”

Colleen Van Ham, UnitedHealthcare’s President and CEO, was also happy to be part of this project. “UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Kyle Long and Dreambuilders to increase awareness about childhood health, and promote healthy lifestyles and good eating habits in underserved Chicago neighborhoods.”

Although plans for the renovations have ben detailed, the actual work of renovating the park will begin this summer. Funding for the School’s ‘Blessings in a Backpack’ program began in January. The parishioners from Holy Name Cathedral have also joined the cause and now, the entire student strength of 255, are being given healthy nutritious food from the School, every weekend.

"We are truly grateful for our partnership with Dreambuilders and the generous support of Chicago Bears' Kyle Long and UnitedHealthcare, helping us feed hungry students over the weekend through our program,” said Brooke Wisemen, CEO, Blessings in a Backpack. “Every child deserves the nourishment needed to learn and grow – because of their generosity, St. Malachy students will come back to school on Mondays better nourished and more ready to learn.”

This is the latest project in UnitedHealthCare’s “Do Good. Live Well.” Program. An employee volunteer initiative, its mission is to inspire service, enthrall and encourage others through volunteerism and most importantly prevent obesity and hunger.

References:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150506006776/en#.VVCh_46qqko