Reno-Area Schools and Health Clinics Receive Reading Stations and Children’s Books to Encourage Early Reading and Healthy Living among Children

• UnitedHealthcare donates reading stations and 250 books as part of reading initiative
• Community leaders, UnitedHealthcare employees and mascot Dr. Health E. Hound participate in reading event featuring the Oliver & Hope™ book series

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Several Reno-area schools and health clinics are receiving children’s books and reading stations to encourage reading among kids in afterschool programs and to help make the visit to the doctor’s office a little brighter.

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UnitedHealthcare is donating five UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) reading stations, nearly 250 Oliver & Hope children’s books and 500 activity worksheets as part of its reading initiative.

The announcement was made at Alice Smith Elementary School where UnitedHealthcare employees joined more than 50 children and families, community leaders and UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound for a reading circle.

UnitedHealthcare employees presented 200 books to the Washoe County School District as part of an initiative to promote reading in the City of Reno’s Sierra Kids after school program. Reading stations, 50 books and 500 activity worksheets are being provided to Community Health Alliance, which operates federally qualified health clinics in the Reno area.

“These books and reading stations are a wonderful addition to our Sierra Kids program and area health clinics,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, who led a reading circle with students during the event. “We appreciate the generosity and commitment of UnitedHealthcare, its Children’s Foundation and employees in supporting children and families in our community.”

The reading stations provide children a colorful place to read or draw, making doctor’s visits more enjoyable.

Each reading station includes kid-sized table and chairs, and copies of the award-winning Oliver & Hope book series that delivers fun stories with engaging images. The stories teach subtle lessons about the power of friendship, resiliency and imagination. The worksheets, available in English and Spanish, include coloring pages and mazes, and give children more educational and fun activities.

“We are thrilled to have these reading stations, books and activity worksheets in some of our Reno-area health clinics,” said Charles Duarte, MBA, CEO of the Community Health Alliance, which provides quality medical, dental and integrated behavioral health care in northern Nevada. “The waiting room is an excellent place for kids to learn and parents to read with them. It helps make a visit to the doctor a much more enjoyable experience.”

According to the Children’s Reading Foundation, parents who read with their children 20 minutes a day from birth through elementary school help them become more proficient readers, and build strong minds and strong relationships.

“Reading to children at a young age is critical to brain development and preparing kids for future school success,” said Traci Davis, Washoe County School District Superintendent. “This initiative will provide excellent reading opportunities for children in school and when visiting their doctor.”

The donations raise awareness of UHCCF and its mission to provide medical grants to help children access health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan.

Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 10,000 grants valued at over $29 million to children and their families across the United States. Last year, UHCCF awarded medical grants worth an estimated $5.4 million to more than 2,000 children across the country. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group employees. UHCCF has created the award-winning Oliver & Hope series to raise funds for the foundation.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to provide reading stations and the Oliver & Hope children’s book series to health centers and schools in Reno as an important health and learning resource for children,” said Don Giancursio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Nevada.

All three books of the Oliver & Hope series are available through uhccf.org/shop for $16.95 each. Proceeds from the books and plush toys from the series help fund the UHCCF child medical grant program.

More information about the Oliver & Hope books, including free audio recordings of the books as well as fun activities and downloads, can be found at Oliver & Hope’s Clubhouse at UHCCF.org.

UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 1 million people enrolled in individual, employer-sponsored, Medicare and Medicaid health plans with a network of 39 hospitals and more than 7,600 physicians and other care providers statewide.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

About UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded 10,000 grants valued at over $29 million to children and their families across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) employees. To apply for a grant, donate or learn more, please visit www.UHCCF.org .

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151005006799/en/

UnitedHealthcare
Trevor Hayes, 702-242-7447
[email protected]

Source: UnitedHealthcare

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