Record Achievements for Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay

Captions: (first photo, L to R) UnitedHealthcare team members, Beth Granger, Susan Fiske, Jo ann-Yina Aponte, Monica Muller, Brian Dimaculangan and Vivian Kibbat gather together before the start of the 4th Annual Girls on the Run 5K Celebration Race. (third photo) Violet Sears, supported by two sparkle runners, crosses the finish line, joining a record 720-plus participants. (fourth photo, L to R) In addition to serving as the title sponsor for the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration Race, UnitedHealthcare also provided 16 training program scholarships, which included financial support for the entire Clair Mel Elementary School team. (fifth photo) As a show of appreciation, the Clair Mel team joined other Girls on the Run program participants in signing a special thank you card for UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare’s partnership with Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay helped set new records in program and 5K Celebration Race participation, with 320 3rd through 5th grade girls from 24 Tampa area schools completing the 10-week training program and 5K “graduation” race, held on Sat., May 7, 2016 at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus in Tampa, Fla.

A record turnout of more than 400 additional runners and walkers joined the 320 girls for the 4th Annual Girls on the Run 5K Celebration race, helping to raise over $10,000 for the Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay program.

In addition to serving as the presenting sponsor for the 5K Race, UnitedHealthcare also provided funding for 16 training program scholarships, including financial support for one entire school, Clair Mel Elementary School in Tampa. “The UnitedHealthcare scholarships have been instrumental in the growth of our program,” said Laura Moore, Council Director for Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay. “Without these funds, many lower income schools and girls would not have the opportunity to participate in what has proven to be a life-changing and enhancing experience for all the girls and their coaches,” Moore added.

The race and its proceeds commemorate and help fund the Girls on the Run training program in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, which has grown from six participating schools in 2013 to 24 schools in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties for the spring 2016 program. The program has also expanded to include Sarasota County schools, bringing the total number of participants to over 360 from 30 Gulf Coast elementary schools.

About Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay

Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in the 3rd through 5th grades. The girls are taught life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay is an Affiliate Council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of 200+ locations across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.girlsontheruntampabay.org.

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.