UnitedHealthcare volunteers fuel pediatric care through UHCCF Grins to Go initiative

UnitedHealthcare serves Lake, Porter, Jasper and La Porte counties with a mission to simplify the health system through affordable plans and local provider partnerships. This commitment extends to the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF), a separate 501(c)(3) organization, where corporate team-building creates a “double-sided” gift for the community. By assembling hospital kits and fleece blankets through the Grins To Go initiative, volunteers provide both immediate comfort to local children and life-changing medical grants for families in need.

“Giving back is part of our culture at UnitedHealthcare,” said Michael Telesky, VP of Sales, Small Business and Key Accounts for Illinois and Northwest Indiana. “We have over 2,100 employees in the state of Indiana who choose to give back to a variety of nonprofits.” 

According to UHCCF, the foundation provides medical grants that enhance the quality of life for children across the United States by helping cover expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by their family’s commercial health insurance. 

“It is through the generous support of companies, volunteers and donors that we are able to help families gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their family’s commercial health insurance plan,” said Scott Otto, assistant executive director of UHCCF. “This support helps families focus on what is most important — improving the quality of life of their child.” 

The Grins to Go program is one of the initiatives corporations can sign up for to support families in need. It turns corporate team-building into a community lifeline through flexible one-to-three-hour volunteer sessions. These events allow participants to create handmade blankets and activity kits for local hospitals, schools, and shelters. Participation fees from these sessions fund UHCCF medical grants for specialized needs like hearing aids and speech therapy. By linking hands-on service with financial support, the program provides tangible resources for families across Northwest Indiana.

“Ensuring families have access to essential health resources is a responsibility we take seriously,” said Telesky “By partnering with UHCCF, we’re able to support children in receiving the care they need to live healthy, full lives. Our role is to listen, to show up, and to provide the people power that strengthens the foundation’s impact.”

The double-smile model is making great strides in Indiana with community involvement reaching record highs. This impact is driven by UnitedHealthcare’s philanthropic culture that empowers staff members to transform their service hours into tangible financial support for local causes. 

“One of the things I really appreciate about our company is the program that provides a cash benefit tied to employee volunteerism,” Telesky said. “Instead of receiving that money myself, our parent company, UnitedHealth Group, allocates funds that I can direct to a nonprofit of my choice. Through this program, 2,100 Indiana-area employees volunteered 38,000 hours and directed over $365,000 to charities across Indiana in 2025. Looking back even further, since 2023, that number has exceeded $2 million across the state.”

UHCCF plans to scale its engagement programs while maintaining a strong financial discipline. This strategy ensures every dollar raised goes toward maximizing the availability of medical grants. The foundation also uses creative public initiatives, like the “Pic My Pet” photo contest, to fund medical grants for kids through $1 votes. Northwest Indiana residents can help by identifying local families struggling with medical costs. A single referral to the foundation provides the necessary resources to change a child’s life. 

“I challenge our community to take a moment to think about the one family in your social circle who might benefit from a medical grant,” Otto said. “Who needs that hand up to get over the hurdle of some medical challenge? Would you be so bold as to point them to the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation? It could surely change the life of that child and that family. Humbly and with gratitude, I ask that they take that step.” 

Outside the Grins to Go program, UnitedHealthcare continues to focus on the broader environmental factors that impact a person’s overall wellness. Through various grants and outreach programs, the company invests in local infrastructure to solve systemic challenges like food insecurity and behavioral health access. This strategy shifts the focus from traditional clinical settings to the neighborhoods where residents live and work. By partnering with regional providers to identify specific care gaps, UnitedHealthcare aims to create a sustainable support system across Northwest Indiana and its service areas.

“Our long-term vision in Indiana is to continue investing in the everyday factors that shape health – not just what happens in a clinic, but the social and environmental conditions that influence well-being,” Telesky said. “One thing we’re most proud of from the past year is how our teams deepened collaboration with community organizations such as Valpo Y and Opportunity Enterprises to address food insecurity, social isolation, and behavioral health needs. These partnerships remain central to our commitment to healthier, stronger communities across Indiana.”

To learn more about UnitedHealthcare visit uhc.com  and to learn more about UHCCF, or to get involved with local initiatives, visit uhccf.org.

*To receive a UHCCF grant, you do not have to be a UnitedHealthcare member.