MMAC AND UNITEDHEALTHCARE ANNOUNCE $600,000 GIFT TO AREA STUDENTS THROUGH ALL-IN MILWAUKEE

SIX YEAR COMMITMENT WILL SUPPORT 30 STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC, CHARTER AND CHOICE SCHOOLS
GIFT SEEKS TO HELP IMPROVE GRADUATION RATES AND SUPPLY THE WORKFORCE WITH LOCAL TALENT

May 6, 2024 (MILWAUKEE) – The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin today announced a collaboration that will provide a $600,000, four-year commitment to All-In Milwaukee.

The gift will support 30 area students attending public, private and charter schools in the city and assist them on their paths to graduate from a local college and enter the workforce in southeastern Wisconsin. The donation will go to students majoring in the health sciences and starting college at area universities in the fall of 2024 and 2025. The application window for the next class of scholars will open in late fall 2024. More information can be found here.

In collaboration with higher education institutions in the region, this investment will ensure 30 limited-income, diverse students are supported through college with a substantial scholarship and ongoing wraparound support, which includes individual advising sessions, workshops and social events covering academic, financial, and career development during the collegiate journey.

“We are honored to work with the MMAC and UnitedHealthcare to support more All-In Milwaukee scholars through college graduation,” said Allison Wagner, Executive Director of All-In Milwaukee. “In a city where only 14% of high school graduates complete a two- or four-year degree in fewer than six years, 91% of All-In Milwaukee’s first two classes will graduate from college in the same amount of time. This additional gift will help more students do the same.”

All-In Milwaukee is a college completion program providing financial aid, advising, program and career support to more than 500 high-potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students to complete college, build meaningful careers and transform the Milwaukee community.

“I am so lucky to have been part of a program that saw the potential in me, invested in my growth and bridged the gap between my dreams and reality,” said Maria Gonzalez, Marquette ’23, Nursing. “Last year, I graduated from Marquette University on the Dean's List with a degree in nursing as a member of All-In Milwaukee’s first class of scholars. I'm now a registered nurse at Children’s Wisconsin and part of the 6% of Latinos within the nursing profession. At one point, these milestones seemed impossible. Now I'm living the life I've prayed for – and All-In Milwaukee has opened many doors for me. I’m so happy to see more students like me from across Milwaukee receive the same opportunities.”

The gift builds upon long-standing UnitedHealthcare efforts to help build a more diverse health care workforce, including a $100 million commitment over 10 years from the United Health Foundation to advance initiatives that can reduce or eliminate health disparities.

“We are committed to helping support local students working to achieve their educational and professional goals, while at the same time cultivating a more diverse and culturally competent health care workforce,” said Dustin Hinton, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin. “Through work with like-minded organizations, we can develop the tools, talent and resources to help remove barriers to care, broaden access and make it easier for people to live healthier lives.”  

Research shows a diverse and representative health care workforce can help improve patient care and health outcomes, which can help spur improved business and economic performance.    

“This is an investment in these students’ futures and the future of our community,” said Dale Kooyenga, President, MMAC. “Current projections show a 1% increase in population in our city through 2040, so we need to jumpstart growth. One solution is to encourage the young talent in our community and provide them crucial support to establish themselves as professionals here.”