HealthMarkets Helps Toys for Tots

HealthMarkets employees have been involved with the U.S Marine Reserve Toys for Tots DFW program since 1986. That first year, HealthMarkets raised $1,317. Since then, the Company and its employees have donated more than $1 million in toys and monetary contributions to the program both as a national sponsor and directly in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December. Then distribute the toys they receive as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. As a result of the 2008 campaign, Toys for Tots was able to provide toys to more than 115,000 children in the DFW area.

In 2008, HealthMarkets expanded its efforts to include its agent field force. HealthMarkets employees donated more than $82,000 in cash and toys, and our independent field force donated an additional $25,000 in cash to support this worthwhile organization for a total company donation of $107,000 last year.

HealthMarkets donations provided gifts that included:

• 300 bicycles with helmets
• 400 skateboards with helmets
• 400 each of: basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, plastic bat and ball Combo sets, and playground balls
• More than 4,000 assorted toys

HealthMarkets employees raise money all year by hosting craft and book fairs, selling popcorn and holding raffles. Throughout the year, we invite local vendors to visit our corporate campus in North Richland Hills with a portion of their sales benefiting our Toys for Tots program. In addition to these activities, there are also annual events such as a Children's Easter Egg hunt, a Golf Tournament in the spring, and a Live Auction in the fall.

In addition to these year-long fund raising activities, during the month of December U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drop boxes are placed throughout our corporate campuses and field offices to collect hundreds of toys from employees, agents and the public for the Toys for Tots program.