Redona Williams, Townsend Elementary School principal, Jayrone Elliott, Green Bay Packers linebacker, Dustin Hinton, CEO and president, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, and Dr. Reginald Lawrence II, regional superintendent Milwaukee Public Schools, announced UnitedHealthcare’s $11,000 donation to Elliott’s Dreambuilders program at Townsend Street School in Milwaukee. The donation will be used to fund Blessings in a Backpack, a national nonprofit that provides students with bags of nutritious food each weekend.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Jayrone Elliott and UnitedHealthcare teamed up today for a volunteer service project at Milwaukee Public Schools’ Townsend Street School in the Sherman Park neighborhood.

Employee volunteers from UnitedHealthcare helped beautify the school by mulching and pulling weeds, painting walls, and reorganizing and restocking bookshelves in the school library.

Elliott, the 2016 Green Bay Packers Walter Payton Man of the Year, joined the UnitedHealthcare employees at the school for the volunteer activity and to announce support of the Blessings in a Backpack program for another academic year. UnitedHealthcare donated $11,000 to Elliott’s Dreambuilders program to fund Blessings in a Backpack, a national nonprofit that provides students with bags of nutritious food. Beginning with the new school year in August, more than 100 students will leave Townsend every Friday with healthy food and snacks for the weekend.

During today’s event, Elliott and UnitedHealthcare donated backpacks of healthy food to all of Townsend’s 320 students.

“Making sure children have healthy food available on the weekend is very important to me, and I’m excited to partner with UnitedHealthcare to ensure that takes place at Townsend Street School, “ said Elliott. “The food we give these kids each Friday during the school year through Blessings in a Backpack will make sure they get the nutrition they need.”

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to support Townsend Street School and partner with Jayrone Elliott’s Dreambuilders to promote healthy lifestyles and good eating habits,” said Dustin Hinton, president and CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin.

Last year, in addition to supporting Blessings in a Backpack, UnitedHealthcare granted funds to Townsend to renovate a student activity center.

“We are fortunate to have partners who care deeply about the community they serve and the children who live in it,” said Dr. Darienne Driver, superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools. “We hope the generosity of UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin and Jayrone Elliott’s Dreambuilders program inspires others to action.”

This project is the latest in UnitedHealthcare’s “Do Good. Live Well.” employee volunteer initiative, whose mission is to prevent hunger and obesity, inspire service and encourage volunteerism. For more information about the benefits of volunteering and to find local opportunities to get involved, visit www.DoGoodLiveWell.org. Follow @DoGoodLiveWell on Twitter or “like” Do Good. Live Well. on Facebook.

Students from Milwaukee’s Townsend Street School received backpacks filled with food on Tuesday from Green Packers linebacker Jayrone Elliott and Dustin Hinton (left), CEO and president, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin. UnitedHealthcare provided an $11,000 donation to Elliott’s Dreambuilders program. The donation will be used to fund Blessings in a Backpack, a national nonprofit that provides students with bags of nutritious food each weekend.