UnitedHealthcare to Present Annual Empire Challenge

The Boomer Esiason Foundation today announced that UnitedHealthcare is sponsoring the 16^th Annual Empire Challenge, which showcases the best high school football players from New York City and Long Island while raising funds to help fight cystic fibrosis.

The UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge All-Star Football Game will be held Tuesday, June 21, at the James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University.  The proceeds of the game will in part support Boomer Esiason Foundation’s efforts to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis.

More than 100 high school football players from New York City and Long Island are expected to play in the all-star classic.  Spectators can enjoy the Ultimate Athlete Magazine Sports Expo and FanFest with Generations Jets, a kids' television show produced by the New York Jets, among other interactive and family-friendly activities.

“The support that companies like UnitedHealthcare provide to the Boomer Esiason Foundation and the Empire Challenge Foundation is a great example of how corporate America can make a significant difference in improving the health of our friends and neighbors, particularly young people,” said Esiason.  “UnitedHealthcare’s support of our foundation will be used to improve the lives of those afflicted with cystic fibrosis and encourage young people to get involved in sports.”

“The Empire Challenge recognizes the best area high school football players, and the funds raised will help fund cystic fibrosis research and support local youth sports programs to help kids get active – and start them on a path to a lifetime of physical activity and wellness,” said Bill Golden, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Employer & Individual business in New York.  “UnitedHealthcare is committed to helping improve the health of the communities we serve, so we are excited about the opportunity to support Boomer Esiason and his foundation.”

For more details on the UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge, visit www.empirechallenge.com.

About the Empire Challenge Foundation

Empire Challenge Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose primary goals are to provide financial assistance to research aimed at finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and to promote youth football programs.  Through an annual high school all-star football game, Empire Challenge Foundation, Inc., along with its corporate sponsors, raises money for the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s fight against cystic fibrosis, contributes to the Gunnar H. Esiason Endowed Scholarship Fund at Hofstra University, and supports youth football in the New York metropolitan area.

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 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide.  UnitedHealthcare serves more than 37 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.