A close-up shows small, colorful Lego pieces scattered on a white countertop. A blue box with white text appears in the bottom left corner. Upbeat, lighthearted acoustic music begins.
On-screen text: Minneapolis
A woman, Jess, and a man, Patrick, stand at a kitchen island, assembling the Legos into a small red and blue structure. Patrick snaps a piece into place and raises his fists in triumph.
Jess Berkelman: I don’t think I’m very good at… There we go. Got it. Did you do the first one? Oh, no.
Patrick Elmore: Yes!
The video cuts to Jess speaking to the camera from a kitchen with light wood cabinets.
On-screen text: Jess Berkelman
UnitedHealthcare employee
Jess Berkelman: Hi, I'm Jess Berkelman. I am an employee at UnitedHealthcare and I am volunteering with the Special Olympics Games in June.
The video cuts to Patrick speaking to the camera from a comfortable living room area.
On-screen text: Patrick Elmore
Special Olympics athlete
Patrick Elmore: Hi, I'm Patrick and I'm a Special Olympics athlete. I've been an athlete for 13 years.
Jess and Patrick smile as they work on the Lego set together. The video then transitions into a montage of photographs showing the two friends together.
Jess Berkelman: Patrick is my best friend. We met through another nonprofit. We were paired five years ago. It's a one-to-one friendship match with someone with a disability and someone without.
The photos show them smiling in a brightly lit room, holding up a "Special Olympics" sweatshirt, posing on an indoor football field, and taking a selfie in a golf cart.
Patrick Elmore: I like going to movies because we're big Marvel fans, and we like going to sporting events because we're big sports fans.
Another photo shows them dressed up at an awards ceremony, holding plaques.
A close-up shows a floor hockey stick hitting a black puck. Patrick, wearing a teal and white hockey jersey, puts a black helmet with a full cage on his head. He walks into a gymnasium where Jess is waiting. They embrace in a warm hug.
Jess Berkelman: Our friendship has developed just like the normal everyday friendship, but it’s grown much deeper.
Patrick Elmore: She feels like family now instead of just this person I get to see once a month.
A wide shot shows a floor hockey game in progress in the gym. Athletes in different colored jerseys run with their sticks. Jess watches intently from the sidelines.
Jess Berkelman: Now expanding to Special Olympics, where we share our love for sports, but now I get to be his cheerleader.
Jess claps and cheers for Patrick.
Jess Berkelman: Go get 'em, Patrick! There you go!
Patrick stands ready on the court holding his hockey stick.
Jess Berkelman: Special Olympics is the best. Everyone there is just giving it their all. There is no such thing as limitations that they can't overcome.
Jess speaks to the camera in the kitchen.
Jess Berkelman: And they have fun and they do their best, and they get to do it with their peers.
Patrick speaks in the living room.
Patrick Elmore: Because of my disability, there is no other opportunity for me to play.
Athletes run across the gym floor playing floor hockey. Jess smiles widely as she watches from the sidelines.
Jess Berkelman: If you are having a bad day, you should go to a Special Olympics event because you'll leave smiling ear to ear.
Patrick speaks to the camera.
Patrick Elmore: I feel finally that I'm being acknowledged for my skills and my... what I am able to do.
Jess speaks to the camera.
Jess Berkelman: I'm so proud to work for UnitedHealthcare, somewhere that sponsors the Special Olympics Summer Games.
A close-up shows a puck on the floor between two hockey sticks. Jess stands with her arms crossed, watching the game. Patrick watches the play on the court.
Jess Berkelman: I think it's so important to support people who might not always get that seat at the table, who might not always get the spotlight put on them.
A close-up of the back of Patrick's helmet shows a red and white sticker.
On-screen text: SPORTSMANSHIP
LEADER OF
THE GAME
Jess Berkelman: Like, it's just not about the winning or the success or the perfection. It's about the joy and being in community together. And that's what I've learned from him and definitely from Special Olympics.
Patrick plays floor hockey, ready to receive a pass.
Patrick speaks to the camera. The video cuts to Jess and Patrick laughing together at the kitchen island while building Legos.
Patrick Elmore: She's changed my life. I call her my superhero because she's been there for me for the ups and downs and everything.
A close-up shows the partially completed Lego model. The screen fades to white. Two logos appear side-by-side. On the left is the logo for the Special Olympics USA Games, featuring a circle made of colorful, stylized figures. On the right is the blue UnitedHealthcare logo.
On-screen text: SPECIAL OLYMPICS
USA GAMES
MINNESOTA 2026
UHC
Uhc.com
PRESENTING PARTNER
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