Orlando Magic, UnitedHealthcare Fight Hunger in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orlando Magic players, Magic Dancers and Orlando Magic staff will join UnitedHealthcare employees today to pack Hi-Five Kids Packs for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

“We know how important a simple, healthy meal can be for any child and the direct impact that can have on their education and future”

The athletes and employees are working together to fight hunger and help the food bank provide 13,500 Hi-Five Packs to hungry children in the tri-county area.

The Hi-Five Kids Packs Program provides nutritious meals to underserved children who do not have access to school cafeterias during the weekend. Each Pack contains kid-friendly food such as cereal, fresh milk and juice, fruit cups and more. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partners with 23 public elementary schools in the tri-county area to distribute the Hi-Five Kids Packs to children who participate in the schools’ free and reduced-cost lunch programs.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Orlando Magic and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to make a difference in the lives of underserved children in the tri-county area, and ensure they have access to fresh, nutritious food,” said T. David Lewis, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Florida, Central North Florida Division.

There is a direct correlation between obesity and hunger due to the limited availability of healthy food options. Households with limited resources often try to stretch their food budgets by purchasing inexpensive, energy-dense foods that are filling. According to the University of South Florida, nearly one in three children in Florida are either overweight or obese.

“We know how important a simple, healthy meal can be for any child and the direct impact that can have on their education and future,” said Alex Martins, CEO, Orlando Magic. “We are proud to work together as a staff and with our partner UnitedHealthcare to provide youth in our area with healthy food and assist in the fight against hunger in our community.”

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 in communities where UnitedHealthcare employees live and work. The Orlando Magic is committed to the youth of Central Florida, serving more than 75,000 children annually with a focus on health and wellness, education, and the arts.

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.

About the Orlando Magic
Orlando's NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic's mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. On the court, Orlando has won five division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010), had seven 50-plus win seasons, and won the Eastern Conference title in 1995 and 2009. Off the court, on an annual basis, the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise, scholarships and grants. Orlando Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 6,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, over the last 23 years more than $18 million has been distributed to local non-profit community organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, which serves at-risk youth. Ticket highlights for the 2012-13 season in the Amway Center, named SportsBusiness Journal's 2012 Sports Facility of the Year, include: 2,500 seats priced $20 or less, 8,000 seats priced $40 or less and 10,000 seats priced $50 or under. For ticket information log on to www.orlandomagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF) is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 500 local nonprofit feeding programs throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed more than 36 million pounds of grocery products – the equivalent of more than 24 million meals – to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes. On average, more than 55,000 different people receive assistance provided by SHFBCF each week. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit www.FeedHopeNow.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 and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 780,000 physicians and other health care professionals and 5,900 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 40 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.

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