Tampa Bay Buccaneers, UnitedHealthcare employees help children learn about produce gardening

Photo captions: (Photo 1) On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Brandon Myers #82 and Gerald McCoy #93, staff and cheerleaders, along with UnitedHealthcare employees, planted “Learning Gardens” at 10 Title 1 grade schools in Tampa. UnitedHealthcare has partnered with the Bucs on the Learning Gardens since 2014; UnitedHealthcare Learning Gardens will be at every one of the 24 Buccaneers Academy schools, totaling 110 total gardens. (Photo 2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Brandon Myers #82 participates in Learning Gardens project, part of the Buccaneers Academies initiative - an educational effort that offers more than 14,000 Tampa-area students incentive-based programs and monthly challenges that provide fun, engaging and motivating opportunities to learn.

Students at 10 Title 1 grade schools in Tampa, Fla. were recently engaged by Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and staff and UnitedHealthcare employees in a partnership to plant “Learning Gardens” at their schools. The Learning Gardens are produce gardens that help students learn how to plant and nurture a garden, and sample new fruits and vegetables.

The Learning Gardens were planted at Buccaneers Academies’ Bevis, BT Washington, Egypt Lake, Lanier, Lithia Springs, Lockhart, Miles, Pizzo and Roosevelt elementary schools and Carver Exceptional Center.

The Learning Gardens project is part of the Buccaneers Academies initiative, an educational effort that offers more than 14,000 Tampa-area students incentive-based programs and monthly challenges that provide fun, engaging and motivating opportunities to learn. Throughout the school year, each Buccaneers Academy implements lesson plans that encourage good behavior, reading, writing and healthy lifestyles.

“It is extremely rewarding to team up with UnitedHealthcare, which – like the Buccaneers – is deeply committed to the students and schools of Central Florida,” said Glazer Family Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz. “The ‘Learning Gardens’ program will provide each participating Buccaneers Academies school with a growing classroom that can be used to demonstrate healthy food choices and leave a lasting, positive impact on children.”

UnitedHealthcare has partnered with the Bucs on the Learning Gardens since 2014. This year’s deliveries now provide UnitedHealthcare Learning Gardens at every one of the 24 Buccaneers Academy schools, totaling 110 total gardens.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Buccaneers to help Florida schoolchildren learn more about healthy foods, and improve their health and well-being,” said T. David Lewis, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Central North Florida.

This project is the latest in UnitedHealthcare’s “Do Good. Live Well” employee-volunteer initiative, whose mission is to prevent hunger and obesity, inspire service and encourage volunteerism. For more information about the benefits of volunteering and to find local opportunities to get involved, visit www.DoGoodLiveWell.org. Follow @DoGoodLiveWell on Twitter or “like” Do Good. Live Well. on Facebook.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.2 million people in Florida with a network of 225 hospitals and other health facilities and more than 45,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.