UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan is seeking proposals to fund programs that educate and encourage the public to quit smoking and avoid tobacco use, and help eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Michigan-based nonprofit organizations and Federally Qualified Health Centers may apply.

Initial grants will range from $20,000 to $30,000. Qualifying organizations can receive the full Request for Proposal (RFP) by contacting communitygrants@uhc.com. Proposals are due July 29, 2016. Awardees will be notified by Oct. 30, 2016.

The RFP was developed following community engagement sessions held in Detroit, Saginaw and Grand Rapids earlier this year. At these sessions, representatives from nonprofit and community-based organizations across the state and UnitedHealthcare discussed developing strategies to address tobacco use and cessation.

“We welcome the opportunity to help organizations and nonprofits statewide deliver innovative, community-based programs and resources needed to help people quit smoking, and avoid tobacco and tobacco-related health challenges,” said Dennis Mouras, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. According to the 2015 America’s Health Rankings® report, more than 20 percent of people smoke in Michigan, compared with just over 18 percent nationally, and almost 12 percent of Michigan high-school students reported smoking cigarettes. In the state, 15,000 deaths are smoking-related each year, according to Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 815,000 people in Michigan enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid health plans, with a network of 165 hospitals and more than 32,000 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 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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