Mission:
To mobilize thousands of people to tell elected officials that health coverage for Americans must be their top priority.

Background:
Established in 2003 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Cover the Uninsured Week occurs May 1-7 this year, with former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter returning as honorary co-chairs for the fourth year. Co-sponsored by eighteen national organizations and foundations, the project grew out of RWJF's realization that uninsured Americans — who number nearly 46 million — live sicker and die younger than those with health insurance. Since its inception, Cover the Uninsured Week has held nearly six thousand local events, in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. This year, featured activities include press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, seminars for small businesses, campus activities, business-leader summits, and interfaith outreach — all designed to mobilize business owners, union members, educators, students, patients, medical professionals, faith leaders and their congregants, and many others around this growing problem.

Outstanding Web Features:
The Cover the Uninsured Week Web site features fact sheets, policies and strategies, news and opinion, legislation, state initiatives, free materials, resources in Spanish, events, and actions individuals can take. The site also lists national partners, sponsors, supporters, former top health officials who are involved, including five surgeons general and three health secretaries, and the project's interfaith advisory board. A new feature this year, the faith planning center provides study materials for the leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, and suggested group actions they can take. The site also links to a related Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative, Covering Kids and Families.