UnitedHealthcare, Make-A-Wish grant trip to Houston child

Samira at her Welcome Home Party hosted by the UnitedHealthcare Houston office.

A local 5-year-old was granted a vacation to Florida thanks to the efforts of UnitedHealthcare and Make-A-Wish.

Samira lives with aplastic anemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant, and when asked what her wish was, she chose a trip with her family to Fort Lauderdale last month for a one-week vacation.

Following the vacation, UnitedHealthcare’s Houston office hosted a “Welcome Home” party for Samira and her family on May 25.

UnitedHealth Group has funded more than 1,250 wishes beginning with its initial three-year, $4.5 million alliance in 2007. The group‘s employees and the dollar-for-dollar company match have donated more than $2.8 million through its annual United Giving Campaign.

“We are very happy to see that UnitedHealthcare’s national alliance with Make-A-Wish is able to provide Samira with her trip,” said David Milich, CEO, UnitedHealthcare South Texas in a press release. “As a health and well-being company, we work every day to make a difference in our communities, and we are honored to be a part of this wish.”