ISELIN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
UnitedHealthcare awarded $30,000 to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA to implement a project in its community to support children’s exercise and physical activity. The grant is part of a statewide initiative between UnitedHealthcare and local YMCAs to fight childhood obesity and physical inactivity.
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UnitedHealthcare of New Jersey CEO Paul Marden presented the grant award to Sheri Cognetti of Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA as part of a statewide initiative to fight childhood obesity and physical inactivity. Additional YMCA partners from left to right: Amanda Aguirre, Westfield YMCA; Mike Johnson, The Gateway Family YMCA; Bonnie Cohen, Westfield YMCA; Matt Gray, Somerset County YMCA; and Barbara Verikas, Metuchen YMCA (Photo: Clutch Shot Productions).
The grant announcement concluded this year’s UnitedHealthcare Health Bee program, a quiz show-style competition that tested middle-school students’ knowledge about health, fitness and nutrition. Five competitions were held at participating YMCA branches – Elizabeth; Fanwood-Scotch Plains; Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy; Somerset; and Westfield – all of which submitted proposals for the grant. With the award, Fanwood-Scotch Plains plans to build a teen center with an interactive floor and wall that will double as a space for students to exercise and hang out with their friends.
“Students enjoy the Y as a healthy space to be physically active and 'play' with their friends. However, during peak hours, we find that the gym and pool are often unavailable for them,” said Sheri Cognetti, senior program director, YMCA. “We’re thrilled to receive this grant from UnitedHealthcare to build a dedicated center for teens to be physically active.”
Since 2009, UnitedHealthcare has worked with New Jersey YMCA branches to help make learning about health and wellness fun. This year, UnitedHealthcare will donate more than $9,000 to 24 New Jersey middle schools that formed teams and competed for the chance to win financial support for health initiatives at their school.
“Pre-teen years are a critical time for children to develop healthy habits and attitudes about exercise and nutrition,” said Paul Marden, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of New Jersey. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the local YMCAs and middle schools to bring programs like this to life.”
UnitedHealthcare serves more than 1.7 million people in New Jersey with a network of more than 100 hospitals and 35,000 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, military service members, retirees
and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and
contracts directly with more than 1 million 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
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