Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Thu, June 10, 2010
Wed, June 9, 2010 Aetna Grants $458,000 to Chicago Area Nonprofits in 2009
CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--In 2009, Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Aetna Foundation awarded community grants and sponsorships in the Chicago area totaling $458,000, with a particular focus on disease prevention, obesity and health screening.
"Aetna is proud to support organizations in Chicagoland which are making great strides in targeting health care issues that affect our communities"
The contributions support Aetnaa™s commitment to enhancing the quality of health care and promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care. In total, the Aetna Foundation, Aetna and its employees awarded more than $24 million nationally in 2009.
The 25 Chicago-area grant recipients were:
- Action for Healthy Kids, Inc.;
- After School Matters, Inc.
- Age Options;
- American Heart Association a" Midwest Affiliate;
- Association House of Chicago;
- Centro Comunitario Juan Diego;
- Chicago Historical Society;
- Chicago Metropolis 2020
- Chicago Run;
- Chicago United;
- CommunityHealth;
- Dreams for Kids;
- Erie Family Health Center, Inc.;
- Goodcity Chicago;
- International Association of Black Actuaries;
- Latin Women in Action;
- Mexican American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois;
- National Center for Healthcare Leadership;
- National Commission on Correctional Healthcare;
- National Museum of Mexican Art;
- Oral Health America;
- Robert Crown Center for Health Education;
- South Side Community Art Center;
- The Joffrey Ballet; and
- Western DuPage Special Recreation Foundation.
aAetna is proud to support organizations in Chicagoland which are making great strides in targeting health care issues that affect our communities,a said Bill Berenson, market head for Aetna in Illinois. aAs a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize our obligation to help address these critical needs.a
The largest of those awards was for $125,000 given to the American Heart Association in support of its Start! walking program. Start! encourages businesses and individuals to undertake walking programs and provides them with tools for success.
aAetna and the Aetna Foundation are proud to partner with organizations across the country in support of their good work, and we look forward to continued relationships as we focus our giving in key areas going forward,a said Anne Beal, MD, MPH, president of the Aetna Foundation. aFor 2010 and beyond, we are transitioning to a new approach that encompasses a more concentrated grant-making focus on specific health issues of national concern, enhanced communication and measurement of the impact of our grants, a more proportionate distribution of our charitable giving across the country, and a more holistic relationship with our community partners that capitalizes on our employee presence and the generosity and talents of our employee volunteers.a
The Aetna Foundation has opened the call for proposals for the 2010 grant cycle. Grant applicants should visit [ www.AetnaFoundation.org ] for more information on how to apply for a grant and to learn more about the following Aetna Foundation focus areas for grant making in 2010 and beyond:
- Addressingthe rising incidence of obesity among U.S. residents, including children;
- Promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care for common chronic conditions and for the prevention of infant mortality; and
- Advancing integrated health care, by:
- Improving coordination and communications among health care professionals;
- Creating informed and involved patients; and
- Promoting cost-effective, affordable care.
About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $379 million in grants and sponsorships. As a national health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who have volunteered nearly 2 million hours since 2003. Our current giving is focused on addressing the rising rate of adult and childhood obesity in the U.S.; promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care; and advancing integrated health care. For more information, visit [ www.AetnaFoundation.org ].
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nationa™s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.1 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see [ www.aetna.com ] and Aetnaa™s annual report at [ www.aetna.com/2009annualreport ].
