New England Revolution and UnitedHealthcare partner to raise awareness about benefits of healthy living

The New England Revolution and UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, are partnering to raise awareness about the benefits of healthy living and prevent chronic diseases, especially childhood obesity and diabetes.

“With so many young people playing soccer in America, this new partnership serves as a great opportunity to reach more children in our fight against childhood diabetes and obesity”

The partnership will provide community leadership in healthy living education through in-stadium activities, public service announcements, community soccer clinics, and youth instructional programs aimed at getting more children active and making healthy lifestyle choices. In addition, the UnitedHealthcare logo will be placed on the front of the team's jerseys.

"With so many young people playing soccer in America, this new partnership serves as a great opportunity to reach more children in our fight against childhood diabetes and obesity," said Michael Matteo, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare National Accounts. "The Revolution players embody wellness and fitness and we look forward to working with them to get kids moving and to further our mission of helping people live healthier lives."

In one of the partnership's first efforts to fight childhood diabetes and obesity, the Revolution players will help educate local children about the importance of healthy living and exercise at inner-city soccer clinics staged through UnitedHealthcare's "JOIN" model, which is completing a successful pilot program with the YMCA in Rhode Island.

"There is no more significant brand placement in sports than across the chest of an athlete and we're proud that UnitedHealthcare has chosen to partner with the Revolution in this way," New England Revolution Investor/Operator Jonathan A. Kraft said. "We believe UnitedHealthcare's innovative approach to promoting youth fitness and wellness, coupled with the platform of our team and Major League Soccer's national footprint, will make a significant, positive impact in New England and across the country. Raising awareness - especially among children - of the importance of living a healthy life starting at a young age is imperative, and we're pleased to be part of UnitedHealthcare's efforts."

UnitedHealthcare is a national leader in the fight against diabetes and obesity, recently launching the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, a partnership designed to fight diabetes, prediabetes and obesity in America.

The Revolution, through its philanthropic arm, the New England Revolution Charitable Foundation, aims to promote health and wellness through a variety of outreach activities, including original programming, player appearances, grant awards and in-kind donations.

The Revolution will debut their game jerseys displaying the UnitedHealthcare logo on Saturday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. EDT, in the team's match against Sporting Kansas City at Gillette Stadium. The game will be televised throughout New England on Comcast SportsNet.