Give an Hour was awarded a $1.6 million grant from United Health Foundation to expand its mental health care system in Houston, Texas, and Tacoma, Wash.

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The grant is part of United Health Foundation’s “Helping Build Healthier Communities” program that provides critical resources to nonprofit, community-based organizations across the country to improve people’s health. The donation will help Give an Hour raise awareness of agencies and organizations that provide culturally competent counseling to service members, veterans and their loved ones; grow its mental health care provider network; and help military families access the resources and services they need by creating a comprehensive mental health resource list and addressing barriers to treatment, such as money, stigma and transportation, in collaboration with other organizations.

Give an Hour is a national nonprofit organization providing confidential mental health services to members of the military, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and their loved ones.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar joined United Health Foundation in awarding the grant to Give an Hour during a ceremony at the MHMRA of Harris County.

“This grant from United Health Foundation to Give an Hour will help change the culture of mental health across the state of Texas, providing much needed mental health care and understanding to the thousands of military, veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Hegar.

“We are honored to be able to partner with Give an Hour to help expand its services and ensure our nation’s military and veterans have access to the health care services they need and deserve,” said Donald Langer, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company.

“No single organization can provide all of the care that our service members and their families need and deserve. And one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to addressing the invisible wounds of war such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Through this generous grant from United Health Foundation, Give an Hour will work with our partners in Houston to expand services and, most importantly, coordinate care for our military and veteran families. Together we will ensure that those who serve are aware of and have access to appropriate and effective support, and mental health care. We are proud to work with United Health Foundation on this critical project,” said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour.

Give an Hour will target the Houston region in order to recruit more licensed mental health professionals to offer free counseling to the military and veteran population. Mental health professionals interested in joining the Give an Hour network can complete an easy online application form at www.giveanhour.org. People in need of services may also visit this website and use the provider search tab to locate a mental health professional in their area.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 4 million Texans with a network of 527 hospitals and more than 63,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.

About Give an HourGive an Hour a nonprofit 501(c)(3) providing free mental health services to military members, veterans, and their families, was founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. Give an Hour has been instrumental in the development of the community-based approach to address the challenges that face our nation's military community, having created a successful model for harnessing skill-based volunteers eager to offer their services. Thus far, the network of nearly 7,000 licensed mental health professionals have provided more than 163,000 hours of care and support to those in need. Give an Hour is now leading the Campaign to Change Direction, a collective impact effort developed to change the culture of mental health in America. Give an Hour and its partners are addressing common barriers to understanding mental health and raise awareness about the signs of emotional suffering. To learn more, visit www.giveanhour.org or connected.giveanhour.org. To learn more about the Campaign to Change Direction, visit www.changedirection.org.

About United Health FoundationThrough collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

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UnitedHealthcareMary McElrath-Jones, 914-552-4671mary_r_mcelrath-jones@uhc.comorGive an HourLauren Itzkowitz, 240-533-1669litzkowitz@giveanhour.org

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