United Health Gives $10,000 To Tanglewood

UnitedHealthcare and former LSU running back and Sugar Bowl MVP Justin Vincent presented a $10,000 check to Tanglewood Elementary School students and staff for new sports equipment and a garden as flood-relief support.
As part of the presentation at the school, UnitedHealthcare employees and Vincent, who is a “captain” with the nonprofit Dreambuilders Foundation, led relay races with the students on the basketball court to demonstrate the fun and rewarding aspects of physical exercise and teamwork.
Tanglewood is among dozens of schools across 22 school districts representing more than 250,000 students that were affected by last year’s floods in South Louisiana. Since November 2016, UnitedHealthcare, in collaboration with Dreambuilders Foundation and Vincent, has been reaching out to local schools in Baton Rouge (St. Jean Vianney Catholic School), St. Amant (Lake Elementary and East Ascension High) and Lafayette (St. James Herod Elementary and Breaux Bridge Elementary) to help replace lost items, and encourage physical activity and educate students and teachers on the benefits of living a healthy, fit life.
“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Dreambuilders Foundation to help replace damaged and lost items at Tanglewood Elementary and other South Louisiana schools,” said Joe Ochipinti, president and CEO, UnitedHealthcare of the Gulf States. “These types of community partnerships have helped hundreds of students gain access andn better understanding of the importance and value of leading a healthy and active lifestyle.”
The afternoon event was hosted by Tanglewood Elementary School principal Julie Stevens and attended by nearly 200 second-grade students. Vincent, Ochipinti and guests cheered on two teams of kids as they participated in a relay races using their new equipment.
They also showcased their new garden, which features anti-bullying “Buddy Benches.”
Vincent and Ochipinti shared with the students the importance of good health, being kind to one another, keeping physically fit and the fundamentals of good sportsmanship.
“Many of our students’ lives were disrupted by the flooding,” Stevens said. “We thank UnitedHealthcare for this generous donation and know it will go a long way in helping our students regain a sense of normalcy and live healthier lives.”
“Keeping kids physically and emotionally healthy is vitally important, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this effort than UnitedHealthcare,” said Vincent. “The new equipment helps address a variety of needs from organized sports to overall physical and mental health.”