With busy lives and careers, it can be difficult for professionals to find time to volunteer. Nevertheless, studies show volunteering benefits both the volunteer and the communities they serve.
Volunteering may help reduce stress, create direct connections with the community and may even be a vehicle to acquire new skills and meet new friends.
To mark National Volunteer Month in April, UnitedHealthcare of Florida employees were ready to hit the ground running.
“Our volunteers ran races to raise funds for charities, prepared meals for the homeless and volunteered at a homeless shelter for women, children and youth, just to mention a few,” said Greg Reidy, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Florida. “They put themselves in their communities to help others and be agents of positive change. We are proud of them and encourage employees to volunteer year-round.”
Here are some areas in which UnitedHealthcare employees were active:
1. Dolphins Cancer Challenge: A 25-35 mile cycling rally from Fort Lauderdale or downtown Miami to the Miami Dolphins Stadium and a 5K to the same stadium, benefiting cancer research at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center.
2. 5K Races: Broward County Government 2nd Annual Health Broward Run and Walk and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent’s 5K to support healthy living and education.
3. Wine, Women and Shoes for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida: A fundraising dinner for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
4. PB&J Challenge for the Homeless: An event to make 275 sandwiches to give to the homeless visiting Tampa’s Trinity Cafe, a nonprofit restaurant serving more than 500 free meals daily.
5. Lotus House Donations: Supplies were donated and delivered to the Lotus House, a South Florida organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless women and children.
6. United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Florida: Orlando and Jacksonville employees worked with students in inclusion classrooms helping the teachers with class activities.
7. Paint with a Purpose with Aspire Health Partners: Refreshed a building with a coat of paint and other exterior upkeep at Orlando’s College Place, a supervised living facility that provides transitional housing and other services to adults with severe mental illness until they have regained the necessary skills for independent living.
