In 2007, UnitedHealth Group and its family of health and well-being businesses pledged to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® by donating $1.5 million per year for three years. The company also included the Foundation in its United Giving Campaign, which is its workplace giving plan. UnitedHealth Group will match 100 percent of employee contributions to the Foundation in addition to its annual commitment.

As part of the alliance, UnitedHealth Group set an annual goal of granting the wishes of 195 seriously ill children throughout the nation. One of the wishes was for 4-year-old Travis, who wished to meet “Elvis” in Hawaii, the setting of three Elvis Presley films. Because his father is a former Elvis impersonator, Travis is well-versed in classic Elvis films.

Travis, who was diagnosed with leukemia, flew with his family from Nevada to the Aloha State eager for his audience with “The King.” He was already a spectacle before he even boarded his flight from Las Vegas: He headed to the gate clad in a white jumpsuit covered in rhinestones provided by UnitedHealth Group. Jeff Adams, a UHG employee, met Travis and his family at the airport and offered Travis a gift bag filled with Elvis essentials, such as the jump suit, big sunglasses and a traditional Hawaiian lei.

Six hours later, Travis was in Hawaii and ready for his wish to come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation arranged for a well-known local impersonator to play the Elvis role and meet the rockin’ wish kid on Waikiki Beach. Travis spent a few speechless moments in the presence of rock royalty, but soon bonded with the ersatz Elvis.

That night, “Elvis” was the featured act at a dinner concert. He invited Travis onstage, where the two of them got all shook up. Elvis wrapped up his act by putting his scarf around Travis’ neck, paying homage to a concert tradition Presley started in the late ‘60s.

Travis and his family then capped his Paradise, Hawaiian Style adventure with a luau before heading back to the mainland, thrilled about his beach summit with “The King.”

Minneapolis-based UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million people nationwide.