San Diego Area Doctors' Offices and Health Clinics Receive Reading Stations and Children's Books to Encourage Early Reading and Healthy Living Among Children

This summer several San Diego-area health clinics and pediatrician offices are receiving reading stations and children’s books to help make the visit to the doctor’s office a little brighter and to encourage reading among kids.

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Commanding Officer Capt. Acosta of the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) is joined by Tom Chohany of UnitedHealthcare and mascot Dr. Health E. Hound as they read to a group of children from the popular Oliver & Hope children’s storybook to young patients at the pediatric intensive care unit. UnitedHealthcare is donating 40 UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) reading stations and nearly 1,000 Oliver & Hope books as part of a summer reading initiative to health clinics, medical centers and doctor’s offices throughout San Diego to encourage early reading and healthy living among children. NMCSD is receiving 10 reading stations, as well as books and children’s activity booklets, which will be placed in patient waiting areas in the hospital (Photo: Sandy Huffaker).

UnitedHealthcare is donating 40 UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) reading stations, nearly 1,000 Oliver & Hope children’s books and 2,000 activity worksheets as part of a San Diego summer reading initiative.

The announcement was made at Naval Medical Center San Diego where UnitedHealthcare employees joined community leaders, children and families, and UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound for a reading circle.

UnitedHealthcare donated the first 10 reading stations to the YMCA located at the Naval Medical Center, which will coordinate the use of the reading stations and children’s books in patient waiting areas in the hospital.

Throughout the summer, UnitedHealthcare employees will lead reading circle events and deliver the reading stations to various community-based organization and health care facilities in the region. The reading stations provide children a colorful place to read or draw, making doctor’s visits more enjoyable.

Each reading station will include a kid-sized table and chairs, and copies of the award-winning Oliver & Hope book series that delivers fun stories with engaging images that enable children to imagine how they might become a hero like the characters. The stories also teach subtle lessons about the power of friendship, resiliency and imagination. The worksheets, available in English and Spanish, include coloring pages and mazes, and give children more educational and fun activities.

Organizations receiving the reading stations and books include Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Ysidro Health Centers, Vista Community Clinics and North County Health Services. UnitedHealthcare will donate 500 books to Reach Out and Read San Diego, which prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors throughout San Diego to give out books and encourage families to read together. These books will enable participating pediatricians, family physicians and nurses to give every child a book to keep when they come for a well-check visit.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to provide these reading corners and the Oliver & Hope series to health centers and physician offices in San Diego as an important health and learning resource for children,” said Brandon Cuevas, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of California.

According to the Children’s Reading Foundation, parents who read with their children 20 minutes a day from birth through elementary school help them become more proficient readers, and build strong minds and strong relationships.

“These reading stations are a wonderful addition to our waiting rooms and will provide children and their parents valuable learning opportunities while in our offices receiving care,” said Capt. Acosta, commanding officer of the Naval Medical Center San Diego, which received 10 reading stations and 30 books. “We appreciate the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, UnitedHealthcare and its employees for their generosity and commitment to our patients.”

The donations raise awareness of the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation and its mission to provide medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan.

Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 9,000 grants valued at over $27 million to children and their families across the United States. Last year, UHCCF awarded medical grants worth an estimated $5.4 million to more than 2,000 children across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group employees. UHCCF has created the award-winning Oliver & Hope series to raise funds for the foundation.

All three books of the Oliver & Hope series are available through uhccf.org/shop for $16.95 each. Proceeds from the books and plush toys from the series help fund the UHCCF child medical grant program.

More information about the Oliver & Hope books, including free audio recordings of the books as well as fun activities and downloads, can be found at Oliver & Hope’s Clubhouse at UHCCF.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 more than 850,000 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 uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

About UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 9,000 grants valued at over $27 million to children and their families across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) employees. To apply for a grant, donate or learn more, please visit www.UHCCF.org.

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