Aetna and the Aetna Foundation in 2009 awarded 27 community grants and sponsorships in North Texas totaling $338,000, with a particular focus on disease prevention, obesity and health screening, the group reported.
In a release, the group noted that the contributions support its commitment to enhancing the quality of health care, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities. In total, the Aetna Foundation, Aetna and its employees, awarded more than $24 million nationally in 2009.
Among the community grants awarded in North Texas were:
-$75,000 to the American Heart Association;
-$25,000 to the American Diabetes Association Inc.;
-$25,000 to the Dallas Concilio of Hispanic Service Organizations;
-$15,000 to the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA);
-$10,000 to the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and
-$5,000 to the Back to School Round-Up.
Twenty-one other organizations in North Texas also received Aetna grants or sponsorships including the African American Museum, AIDS Arms, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, Attitudes and Attire, Black Tie Dinner, Dallas Foundation, Dallas Summer Musicals, DFW Business Group on Health, Foundation for the Education of Young Women, Greater Dallas Hispanic Foundation, Hispanic Wellness Coalition, International Dallas Communities, Junior Achievement of Dallas, Inc., Latin Arts Association of Fort Worth, North Texas Navidad en el Barrio Foundation, Open Arms, Inc., Parents Step Ahead, PWA Coalition of Dallas, Rebuilding Together-Greater Dallas, The Dallas Opera, and The Empowerment Project.
'Aetna is proud to support organizations in the Metroplex which are making great strides in targeting health care issues that affect our communities,' said Ralph Holmes, market head for Aetna in North Texas. 'As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize our obligation to help address these critical needs.'
The Aetna Foundation awarded a $75,000 sponsorship to the American Heart Association for their 2009 Start! Heart Walk, which promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in the community.
The American Diabetes Association received a $25,000 grant for their Por Tu Familia program, which provides workshops and activities to educate Hispanics about diabetes and the importance of making healthy food choices and exercising.
Under a $25,000 grant, the Dallas Concilio of Hispanic Service Organizations will use the Latino Initiative for Diabetes Education and Risk-Reduction (LIDER) program to produce a self-management course entitled Viviendo con la Diabetes ('Living with Diabetes). The course will give people the tools to live longer and healthier lives and reduce risk of further complications.
The Dallas Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) received a $15,000 grant to fund the Aetna Health Award, which recognized a health care professional in the community who works with those living with HIV/AIDS.
The Aetna Foundation gave the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC)a grant in the amount of $10,000 to be used as sponsorship of the FWHCC's four fundraisers and to support the leadership and bilingual business development courses offered to its members.
The Back-To-School Round Up received a $5,000 grant to assist in providing 8,000 low income children in Tarrant County with backpacks, school supplies, gift cards for shoes, immunizations and haircuts.
'Aetna 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,' said Anne Beal, MD, MPH, president of the Aetna Foundation. 'For 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.'
The Aetna Foundation has opened the call for proposals for the 2010 grant cycle. Grant applicants should visit 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:
-Addressing the 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.
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