United Health Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support Vulnerable Los Angeles County Residents Amid COVID-19 Emergency

Donation to the California Community Foundation’s COVID-19 LA County Response Fund is part of initial $50 million commitment from UnitedHealth Group to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities

MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United Health Foundation has committed $1 million to provide urgent assistance to Los Angeles County residents experiencing homelessness as they face unprecedented hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership with the California Community Foundation’s COVID-19 LA County Response Fund is part of UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) previously announced initial $50 million commitment to fight COVID-19 and support those most directly impacted, including health care workers, hard-hit communities, seniors and people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.

The $1 million donation to the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund will support Los Angeles County clinics and hospitals that serve unsheltered residents and low-income individuals, triaging those who are sick or who have been exposed to the virus, and will assist housing providers and shelter operators who are responding to the increased demand for emergency services for the county’s homeless population.

UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare, Optum and the United Health Foundation, has a long history of addressing homelessness, a key determinant of health among vulnerable populations in California and across the country.

“The COVID-19 public health emergency has compounded the many challenges faced by Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents. This assistance will help support some of the hardest hit members of our community, including those without reliable access to housing,” said Amar Desai, M.D., M.P.H., president and chief executive officer for Optum California, an integrated health system made up of medical groups and physician networks serving more than 1.4 million patients across Southern California.

“Our partnership with the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund will provide critical aid to the clinics and hospitals responding to the need in our community and complements efforts already underway by Mayor Garcetti and county supervisors,” said Meghan Newkirk, general manager, Southern California, UnitedHealthcare.

“We are committed to supporting our nonprofit partners’ efforts to address increased health clinic usage and support homeless residents across Los Angeles County during this unprecedented health crisis,” said Antonia Hernández, president and chief executive officer, the California Community Foundation. “Partnering with the United Health Foundation will enable us to help clinics respond to increased demand for care and assist unsheltered and low-income residents.”

The United Health Foundation recently announced $5 million in national partnerships with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, the Feeding America network of member food banks, and Meals on Wheels America as part of its commitment to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities.

About the California Community Foundation’s COVID-19 LA County Response Fund

The California Community Foundation (CCF) launched the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund to address the immediate and emerging needs of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents — from mitigation to eventual recovery. This fund will address emerging needs in the community with an initial focus on education, health, homelessness, and individual hardship assistance through non-profit partners serving communities and individuals affected by COVID-19. CCF is a community foundation serving Los Angeles County. By being responsive during times of uncertainty, the organization embraces its leadership role to respond to the evolving needs of its diverse residents.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.

About Optum California

Optum California is an integrated health system that serves more than 1.4 million patients across Southern California through its family of medical groups and provider networks, including OptumCare Medical Group, HealthCare Partners, AppleCare Medical Group, Monarch HealthCare and North American Medical Management of California.