HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Make-A-Wish® executives joined UnitedHealthcare employees to celebrate the 35th anniversary of “World Wish Day” at the company’s 185 Asylum St. offices. UnitedHealthcare donated more than $16,000 to help Make-A-Wish fulfill wishes for children in Connecticut with severe life-threatening medical conditions.
“World Wish Day” honors the anniversary of the first wish ever granted, which was to a 7-year-old boy named Chris who wished to be a police officer. Granting his wish inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish® 35 years ago and sparked a global wish-granting movement.
UnitedHealthcare employees purchased 10,000 luminaires during a two-week Wishes at Work® campaign to support children’s wishes in Connecticut. These candle-lit bags were displayed during the Make-A-Wish “World Wish Day” Hartford celebration. Make-A-Wish also shared a new wish being fulfilled through efforts like UnitedHealthcare’s. Five-year-old Wish Kid Louis recently returned from his Make-A-Wish experience, which was to swim with the dolphins in Florida. Louis’s trip was more than he could have dreamed of, and according to his mother, “words cannot describe the experience this was for all of us.”
“Through our decades-long relationship with UnitedHealth Group, we have been able to fund countless wishes in Connecticut and across the country,” said Maria Arnold, development officer for Make-A-Wish Connecticut. “The success of this statewide luminaires campaign demonstrates that UnitedHealth Group’s employees take our mission to heart – and we look forward to joining them again to make more wishes come true.”
Make-A-Wish Connecticut began granting wishes to local children in 1986 and has made more than 2,500 wishes come true over the past 29 years. Wishes inspire imagination and happiness, and enable children to spend precious time with their families. More than 180 wishes were granted in its 2014 fiscal year, and more than 200 wishes will be granted in the coming year.
“These kids have such a resilient spirit that has touched so many of our employees,” said Stephen Farrell, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of New England. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Make-A-Wish Connecticut to make more children’s wishes come true.”
About Make-A-Wish Connecticut
The
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Connecticut grants the wishes of
children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human
experience with hope, strength and joy. Wish-come-true experiences can
do wonders by providing a much-needed break from lengthy hospital stays
and medical treatments. They give back to a child what a serious medical
condition can take away – the chance to simply enjoy being a kid. Wish
Kids often choose something that will inspire happiness and allow them
to spend precious time with their families. The Connecticut chapter has
made more than 2,500 wishes come true since its inception in 1986. Learn
more about Connecticut wishes at www.ct.wish.org,
or join Make-A-Wish on Facebook (search Make-A-Wish Connecticut),
Twitter (@MakeAWishCT) and Instagram (@MakeAWishCT).
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 850,000 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 www.uhc.com
or follow @myUHC on Twitter.
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