WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program, awarded
AARP Foundation a grant of $3.3
million, with an additional $1
million coming from UnitedHealthcare, to implement a
multi-year $6.6 million incentive
program in Tennessee and
Mississippi to increase the
purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The
goal of this program is to increase the purchase and consumption of
fruits and vegetables and to improve nutrition and health outcomes
for low-income consumers.
"We are very pleased to receive this generous grant from USDA
that underscores AARP Foundation's important work to ensure all
Americans can afford nutritious food and lead productive, healthful
lives," said AARP Foundation President Lisa
Marsh Ryerson. "I would also like to thank our friends
at UnitedHealthcare, Kroger Co., the Tennessee and Mississippi Departments of Human
Services and Departments of Agriculture for their support, because
collaboration of this magnitude is crucial in finding a solution to
end senior hunger."
Encouraging more nutritious diets is a focus in the health care
industry, which recognizes better nutrition as a disease prevention
and health promotion measure. AARP Foundation agrees with this view
and believes making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible is
particularly important for older adults and individuals living with
limited or fixed incomes.
"Food insecurity is an issue that affects 45 million people in
the United States, so
UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to work with AARP
Foundation and support programs that give people access to healthy
and affordable food," said Austin
Pittman, CEO of UnitedHealthcare's Medicaid business.
Beginning in September 2015, SNAP
recipients will be able to take advantage of this incentive program
at select Kroger's stores and farmers markets. AARP Foundation is
contracting with Wholesome Wave, a non-profit organization with a
track record of establishing incentive programs, to provide
training and technical assistance to farmers markets and to assist
with implementation of the outreach plan.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for
struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most
serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and
isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four
fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy,
the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working
with local organizations nationwide to reach more people,
strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go
further. AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity. Learn more
at www.aarpfoundation.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. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves
45 million people in health benefits and 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.
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SOURCE AARP Foundation