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UnitedHealthcare Employees Donate Food, Everyday Necessities for Month-Long Campaign to Support Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' Emergency Shelter
[October 01, 2014]

UnitedHealthcare Employees Donate Food, Everyday Necessities for Month-Long Campaign to Support Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' Emergency Shelter


CHICO, Calif. --(Business Wire)--

UnitedHealthcare employees and Chico Chamber of Commerce today helped highlight October's Domestic Violence Awareness month by delivering more than 4,000 pounds of food and dozens of boxes of everyday necessities for Catalyst Domestic Violence Services' emergency shelter.

Butte County Supervisor Maureen Kirk (middle right) and UnitedHealthcare employees (left to right) S ...

Butte County Supervisor Maureen Kirk (middle right) and UnitedHealthcare employees (left to right) Shannon Cloud, Matthew Turner and Chris Plymesser on Wednesday, Oct. 1, help load boxes of food and everyday items onto a truck to be delivered to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services emergency Shelter. UnitedHealthcare employees and Chico Chamber of Commerce helped highlight October's Domestic Violence Awareness month by delivering more than 4,000 pounds of food and dozens of boxes of everyday necessities such as toothbrushes, soap and blankets for Catalyst's emergency shelter (Photo: Brian Peterson).

The donation is part of a month-long public service campaign by the local business community and Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to raise awareness for domestic violence.

UnitedHealthcare employees, joined by staff from Catalyst Domestic Violence Services, members of the Chico Chamber of Commerce and community leaders loaded the donated food along with everyday necessities such as toothbrushes, diapers, socks, blankets and shampoo into a truck that was delivered to Catalyst's emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Nearly 1.3 million women nationwide are victims of physical abuse by a partner each year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Throughout October, Catalyst Domestic Violence Services, the only domestic violence emergency housing program for victims of domestic violence in Butte County, will be hosting a series of events as part of a public service campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Activities include a Chamber of Commerce Business Connections Breakfast, a tabletop display at Chico State's Gender & Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC) Information Fair, a public awareness art display "Raising Voices for Hope" at Children's Park, and a screening of the independent film, "Tough Love" at the Focus Film Festival. A complete list of events is available online at www.catalystdvservices.org.



"Getting out, working with the community and sharing information about available resources are some of the most important things we do," said Anastacia L. Snyder, executive director at Catalyst. "We are grateful for all the support from UnitedHealthcare's employees and Chico's business leaders. They are helping us deliver a powerful message about survival and support."

This is the fifth year UnitedHealthcare employees have donated food and other items in support of Catalyst's housing programs. In addition to working with the Chico Chamber of Commerce to support business outreach about the impacts of domestic violence, this year employees helped collect everyday items needed at the shelter for women and children seeking a safe place.


"Our employees are grateful for the opportunity to work with the Chamber and other business partners to help Catalyst raise awareness about domestic violence and help people who are in need of support in our community," said Pam Jamian, UnitedHealthcare Chico site director.

"Our work with Catalyst and UnitedHealthcare is a great example of businesses and nonprofits coming together to make a difference in our community," said Katie Simmons, president and CEO, the Chico Chamber of Commerce.

Several community leaders joined UnitedHealthcare employees and Catalyst, rolling up their sleeves and helping load the donated food and items into a truck for delivery to Catalyst.

Catalyst Domestic Violence Service helps about 1,500 victims of domestic violence and their children 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 more than 35 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 nearly 3.2 million Californians with a care provider network of 330 hospitals and more than 60,000 physicians and other health care professionals statewide. UnitedHealthcare opened its Chico call center in 1998, and is now one of the largest employers in the community with its employees servicing more than 2 millions calls annually for health plan customers across the United States.

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 and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 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.

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