More than 700 Easter baskets were assembled, loaded and delivered to three nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles and Orange counties by local volunteers and UnitedHealthcare employees. The handmade Easter baskets were delivered to families and kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, the San Clemente Military Family Outreach and Olive Crest in Bellflower.

UnitedHealthcare employees and UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound prepared more than 700 Ea ...

UnitedHealthcare employees and UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound prepared more than 700 Easter baskets at UnitedHealthcare’s Cypress, Calif., campus and loaded them into a specially decorated truck for delivery to three nonprofits. The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, the San Clemente Military Family Outreach and Olive Crest in Bellflower received the Easter baskets packed with goodies for kids ages 4-12. This is the tenth year that employees at the Cypress, Santa Ana and Irvine locations participate in the Easter basket drive (Photo: Jamie Rector).

UnitedHealthcare employees, joined by community leaders and UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound, assembled the Easter baskets at UnitedHealthcare’s Cypress campus, and then loaded them into a specially decorated truck for delivery to the three nonprofits.

This is the tenth year that UnitedHealthcare employees at its Cypress, Santa Ana and Irvine offices have come together to donate, assemble and decorate the baskets.

Inside each basket are items like healthy snacks, treats, sports equipment, art supplies, crafts, stationery, gift cards, stuffed animals, toys and games. Also included is a special copy of the children’s book, Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday, donated by the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.

The first Easter basket delivery was made to the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress. There, UnitedHealthcare employees, Dr. Health E. Hound and Cypress City Councilmember Stacy Berry presented each child with a basket and joined them in various Easter-themed activities including an egg-on-a-spoon race and a bunny hop obstacle.

“This donation is very special for us and the kids at our Club King location. We are so appreciative to the employees of UnitedHealthcare and their generosity,” said Anne Hertz, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Cypress. “This is a heartfelt donation that provides the club members so much joy. The expressions on their faces say it all as the volunteers present them with a beautifully wrapped basket. It’s simply wonderful.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is an afterschool program located at Clara King Elementary School that emphasizes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The Club offers support during the school year, providing daily homework help, tutoring programs as well as good nutrition and regular physical activity.

Following the event at the Boys and Girls Club, an additional 180 baskets were delivered to Olive Crest in Bellflower.

“We are very thankful for the commitment our friends at UnitedHealthcare have made to our kids with their donation of Easter baskets,” said David Renteria, Family Resource Center Coordinator with Olive Crest. “A majority of the kids and families we work with have been through foster care and other transitional living, and providing them with Easter baskets is one way we can provide stability and normalcy in their lives.”

The Bellflower location of Olive Crest offers a broad spectrum of care for abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families. They work to meet the individual needs of kids in crisis by providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and parents.

The third and largest donation will be made this weekend on the Camp Pendleton base to the San Clemente Military Family Outreach program where Dr. Health E. Hound will be on hand to deliver and help distribute the remaining 400 baskets to kids who have a parent serving in the military.

“Most of the families we work with are living far from home and relatives, and often have one of their parents serving overseas. These Easter baskets are a welcome source of support for our kids, their parents and our larger military family,” said Kathleen Morea, chairperson, San Clemente Military Family Outreach. “Every year we are so grateful for the UnitedHealthcare volunteers who support our mission and families.”

The San Clemente Military Family Outreach (SCMFO) provides support and assistance to military members and their dependents, with special attention given to the young families stationed at the northwest area of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. The organization offers programs to improve morale and provide emergency assistance with financial needs such as groceries, infant diapers, formula, gas and car repairs, school supplies and other unexpected needs.

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to create and deliver these baskets, and bring Easter cheer to so many children in our community,” said Brandon Cuevas, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of California. “This Easter Basket Drive continues to generate excitement and enthusiasm among our employees and is one of the many ways our employees give back, help others and make a difference.”

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.2 million people in California with a care provider network of 365 hospitals and more than 88,000 physicians 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 850,000 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 (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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