Make-A-Wish Connecticut Celebrates 30th Anniversary
-
More than 1,600 stars adorned UnitedHealthcare’s 185 Asylum St.
offices for the Make-A-Wish Connecticut 30th
anniversary celebration -
UnitedHealthcare employees across Connecticut participated in
two-week Wishes at Work® “Stars
of Hope” campaign to help make more wishes come true, raising more
than $16,000
HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Make-A-Wish® executives joined UnitedHealthcare employees to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Connecticut and
recognize “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 life-threatening medical
conditions through its “Stars of Hope” campaign.
“World Wish Day” honors the anniversary of the first wish ever granted,
which was to a seven-year-old boy named Chris who wished to be a police
officer. Granting his wish inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish in the
United States 36 years ago and sparked a global wish-granting movement.
UnitedHealthcare employees purchased more than 1,600 stars during a
two-week Wishes at Work® campaign to support children’s
wishes in Connecticut. These stars were displayed during the Make-A-Wish
Connecticut 30th anniversary celebration and in recognition
of “World Wish Day” Friday, April 29. Make-A-Wish also shared a new wish
that was fulfilled through efforts like UnitedHealthcare’s.
Nineteen-year-old Wish Kid Brianna recently returned from her
Make-A-Wish experience, travelling to London and Paris to see Big Ben,
Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, among other sites.
“I got to walk where kings and queens walked and view Paris from the
Eiffel Tower at night. These memories will help me through the hard
times,” Brianna said.
“We have collaborated with UnitedHealth Group and its caring employees
for more than 10 years, enabling us to fund countless wishes in
Connecticut and across the country,” said Pam Keough, president and CEO
of Make-A-Wish Connecticut. “The continued success of its annual
statewide campaign demonstrates that UnitedHealthcare’s employees take
our mission to heart, so we can make more wishes come true.”
Make-A-Wish Connecticut began granting wishes to local children in 1986
and has made more than 2,600 wishes come true over the past 30 years.
Wishes inspire imagination and happiness, and enable children to spend
precious time with their families. More than 200 wishes were granted in
its 2015 fiscal year, and more than 240 wishes will be granted in the
coming year.
“Wish Kids have such strong spirits, moving our employees to want to do
more to help make their wishes come true,” said Stephen Farrell, CEO,
UnitedHealthcare of New England. “We are grateful for the opportunity to
partner with Make-A-Wish Connecticut to help kids be kids.”
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 2,600 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 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
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com
or follow @myUHC on Twitter.
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Contacts
Make-A-Wish Connecticut
Michael Dominick, 203-880-6964
michael@ct.wish.org
or
UnitedHealthcare
Maria
Gordon Shydlo, 917-748-9002
maria_g_shydlo@uhc.com
