Fifty Miami Children Receive Refurbished Laptops Donated by UnitedHealthcare

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Michael Lawton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida along with Miami city officials, today presented 50 Miami children with laptop computers who were the winners of the “Get Healthy Now Kids” essay contest sponsored by the City of Miami Office of Grants Administration Education Initiatives.

Miami children in grades 3 to 6 were encouraged to share ideas on how to live a healthy lifestyle through the “Get Healthy Now Kids” essay contest for their chance to receive a donated laptop from UnitedHealthcare's Community Computers program. Fifty children were selected as first place winners of the essay contest and received a laptop donated by UnitedHealthcare.

“Computers are an integral part of our 21st century economy, so it's essential that our children learn how best to integrate the technology into their learning. They will afford our students the opportunity to conduct educational research and enable them to better compete in an increasingly computer-savvy world,” said Mayor Regalado. “I thank UnitedHealthcare for recognizing the importance of connecting students to computers and bringing opportunity to children who previously lacked to technology.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to help children learn more about their health and well-being, and to donate these laptops that will give them greater access to technology and enhance their education,” said Michael Lawton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida.

UnitedHealthcare has donated 75 computers to local community organizations in Florida since beginning the Community Computers program in 2012. Earlier this year, UnitedHealthcare donated computers to two community organizations in Jacksonville including Schell-Sweet Community Resource Center (SSCRC), which provides lifelong learning opportunities for adults and their families. SSCRC also provides health education and screening services, computer training, veteran services, community service seminars/workshops, social services, employment referrals, food distribution and communication activities. The Sulzbacker Center also received a computer donation. The center empowers homeless and at risk women, children and men through health, housing and income services thereby restoring hope and self-sufficiency.

Many community partners have expressed the need to connect via technology with the people they serve. In response, UnitedHealthcare has donated computers to serve vulnerable populations, such as inner city youth, the elderly and people with disabilities through the Community Computers program. The program extends the usable life of computers by putting them in the hands of people who otherwise could not afford them.

UnitedHealthcare has donated more than 2,000 computers in 15 states since the program began in 2012. For more information about Community Computers and to apply for computers, visit http://www.uhccommunityplan.com/community-partners/fl.html.

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, military service members, retirees and their families, 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. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group UNH, a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

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