UnitedHealthcare employees in Chico today donated more than 3,000 pounds of food and dozens of boxes filled with everyday necessities to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' emergency shelter in Butte County.
Joined by representatives from the Chico Chamber of Commerce and other community leaders, UnitedHealthcare employees announced the beginning of a month-long public service campaign in partnership with Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to raise awareness throughout October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Over the past seven years, UnitedHealthcare employees have donated more than 17,000 pounds of food to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to help the men, women and children fleeing a violent home and in need of a safe place to go and to start rebuilding their lives.
UnitedHealthcare also donated a new UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) reading station and 100 books to support Catalyst's Children's Program, which provides therapeutic, recreational and educational activities for children of all ages. The reading station includes a kid-size table and chairs, and copies of the award-winning Oliver & Hope™ book series.
Each year, an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical abuse by a partner in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). About 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate-partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence. Throughout October, Catalyst Domestic Violence Service – the only domestic-violence emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children in Butte County – will host a series of events as part of a public service campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Activities taking place throughout the month include a public service announcement on local radio stations, a Chico Chamber of Commerce Business Connections morning event and a tabletop display at Chico State University's Gender & Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC). For a complete list, visit: www.catalystdvservices.org.
"Every year we see hundreds of families come through our doors," said Anastacia L. Snyder, executive director of Catalyst. "They often come with little more than the clothes they are wearing. The amazing support we receive from UnitedHealthcare helps us care for these families at moments of crisis in their lives."
"Our employees know that their donations are making a lasting, positive impact in people's lives," said Deborah Domer, UnitedHealthcare Chico site director. "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our partnership with Catalyst Domestic Violence Services and raise awareness of domestic violence in our communities."
"We are thrilled by the support of the employees at UnitedHealthcare – what they are able to achieve is truly remarkable," said Katie Simmons, president and CEO, the Chico Chamber of Commerce. "The business community in Chico is proud to support this annual food drive and help to heighten awareness of the resources available for people who are experiencing the damaging effects of domestic violence."
Along with UnitedHealthcare employees, community leaders, including Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter, joined to load the donated food and items into the truck.
"We need to shed light on this issue and the devastating impact it has in our community, our families and our workplace," Supervisor Teeter said. "The employees of UnitedHealthcare are leading the way and showing us how to support each other and raise awareness to help end domestic violence."
Catalyst Domestic Violence Service helps nearly 1,300 victims of domestic violence annually as they work to leave abusive situations. The not-for-profit organization offers safe housing for domestic violence victims as well as counseling and legal assistance with restraining orders. Established nearly 40 years ago, the nonprofit's two drop centers provide services throughout Butte County in addition to its 28-bed confidential shelter and transitional housing program. Catalyst's mission is to reduce the incidence of intimate-partner violence through crisis intervention services, community education and the promotion of healthy relationships.
UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.6 million Californians with a care provider network of more than
360 hospitals and nearly 100,000 physicians and other health care professionals statewide. UnitedHealthcare established its Chico call center in 1998 and is now one of the largest employers in the community, with its employees serving health plan customers across the United States through more than 2 million calls annually.
About Catalyst
Catalyst is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the needs of all domestic violence victims and their children regardless of ethnicity, citizenship, language, religion, physical disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. Catalyst operates a 24-hour hotline for those in need at 800-895-8476.
About the Chico Chamber of Commerce
The Chico Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy organization serving over 600 area businesses. Our mission is to be the unified voice of businesses. For more information about programs and services visit www.chicochamber.com.
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 1 million 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 www.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 over 12,000 grants valued at more than $34 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 .
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Oct. 5, 2016, Deborah Domer, site director for UnitedHealthcare in Chico, Calif., announced UnitedHealthcare employees donated more than 3,000 pounds of food and everyday necessities to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' emergency shelter in Butte County. (Photo credit: Brian Peterson)
UnitedHealthcare employees in Chico, Calif., donated more than 3,000 pounds of food and everyday necessities to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' emergency shelter in Butte County. Over the past seven years, UnitedHealthcare employees have donated more than 17,000 pounds of food to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to help the men, women and children fleeing a violent home and in need of a safe place to go to start rebuilding their lives. (Photo credit: Brian Peterson)
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