The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest was awarded a
three-year, $2 million grant by United Health Foundation to help support
the “Partners for Asthma Action” project in 90 clinics across the
Midwest, including the Milwaukee metro area.
Dustin Hinton, president and CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, presents Lew Bartfield, president and CEO, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, with a $2 million grant from United Health Foundation during the American Lung Association in Wisconsin's annual gala Saturday, May 2 (Photo: Dave Jonasen).
Partners for Asthma Action aims to improve the quality of life, school
achievement and life prospects of more than 180,000 low-income children
living with asthma in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Louis
and a fifth city to be identified later this year. The goal is to
improve the quality of life of children living with asthma, enhance
awareness of asthma treatment and education resources; and establish a
sustainable capacity of local public health and social service agencies
to remove asthma environmental triggers, and identify and refer children
with poorly managed asthma – all of which will help lower the costs of
asthma care in these communities by reducing unnecessary health care
utilizations.
The grant is part of United Health Foundation’s “Helping Build Healthier
Communities” program that is providing critical resources to nonprofit,
community-based organizations across the country to improve communities’
health and well-being.
“We are thrilled to receive United Health Foundation’s support in
helping us expand our work and enhance people’s health and well-being in
greater southeast Wisconsin,” said Linda Witucki, executive director,
American Lung Association in Wisconsin. “By supporting Partners for
Asthma Action, the United Health Foundation grant will help us
significantly improve the quality of life of children in our community
living with asthma.”
The grant was awarded May 2 during the American Lung Association in
Wisconsin’s annual O2 Oxygen Ball. All proceeds from the O2 Oxygen Ball
support the Lung Association’s services in Wisconsin to improve lung
health and prevent lung disease through education, advocacy and
research. Celebrations of the grant are also being held in cities
throughout the Midwest that will benefit, including Saint Louis,
Milwaukee and Indianapolis.
“United Health Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to support the
American Lung Association’s efforts in bringing new, innovative
approaches in care,” said Dustin Hinton, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of
Wisconsin and Michigan, and board member of the American Lung
Association in Wisconsin. “The American Lung Association’s work in the
community is showing significant results and enhancing people’s health
and quality of life, particularly in underserved areas.”
Reaching more than 500,000 people each year, the Lung Association of the
Upper Midwest is a regional charter of the national American Lung
Association. The Lung Association of the Upper Midwest is composed of 10
state associations across the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Each office provides lung disease education and intervention programs to
improve management and reduce disability; tobacco prevention and control
programs; professional education programs to improve lung disease
treatment; and programs to improve outdoor and indoor air quality.
The United Health Foundation grant will be administered by the Lung
Association of the Upper Midwest over a three-year period. The Partners
for Asthma Action project will be implemented in coordination with local
clinics, and success measurements will include significant improvement
in asthma health outcomes and control, and significant reduction in
health care costs.
About the American Lung Association of the
Upper Midwest
Our mission is to save lives by improving
lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the
American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research,
education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung
Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA
(1-800-586-4872) or visit www.LungUM.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through
collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts,
United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a
diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local
communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth
Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation
dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health
Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and
communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
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