Atlanta's City Council issued a proclamation commending Aetna (NYSE: AET) for supporting programs and raising awareness of the growing health problems of childhood obesity and diabetes in the Metro Atlanta community (see also Aetna).
Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall presented the proclamation, which honored Aetna for its outreach efforts in Atlanta, particularly in heavily African American neighborhoods, where the effects of childhood obesity and diabetes are felt even more severely. Hall's District 2 includes Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, the neighborhood that raised Martin Luther King Jr. After the proclamation, Hall praised Aetna for its work with District 2-based nonprofits including the King Center, the Butler Street YMCA, and 100 Black Men of Atlanta. 'A healthy city starts with healthy citizens,' said Hall.
In 2008, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation awarded community grants and sponsorships in Georgia totaling $725,000, with a particular focus on targeting diabetes and related conditions. In the first six months of 2009, they awarded grants totaling more than $350,000 for similar programs. Aetna provides health benefits to more than 600,000 people in Georgia.
'Aetna is deeply concerned about the impact of diabetes and childhood obesity in the Atlanta area,' said Cynthia Follmer, president of Aetna's Georgia market. 'These are health issues that threaten the continued well-being of our communities, and Atlanta has been particularly affected. That's why we're working with organizations in the area to raise awareness and find solutions to these health crises.'
Much of Aetna's support has been directed at the Atlanta area. One example is a $50,000 grant to the King Center, to help fund the center's Health and Wellness Forum. Aetna's support is providing information, education and services to empower people to take charge of their health and wellness and end racial health disparities.
Another is a $75,000 grant to the Butler Street YMCA, helping to fund a health and wellness expo and hosting an event at the YMCA with basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, who shared his personal story of perseverance and health awareness with Atlanta youngsters.
Aetna also has a long-standing relationship with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, working with the organization on a wide variety of health-related programs. Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have given $230,000 to the 100 Black Men of Atlanta over the past three years, targeting funds to efforts to improve awareness of childhood obesity and diabetes, both of which affect the African-American community with high frequency.
Recently, Aetna announced that it will provide $10,000 to create a memorial fund in honor of the late Terrell L. Slayton Jr., past chairman of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. The funds are part of an $80,000 Aetna Foundation grant.
The memorial fund will provide scholarships for young people involved in Project Success, a tuition assistance and mentoring program started by the organization in 1987, and a favorite cause of Slayton. The fund will assist young people hoping to pursue careers in the health care field. About Aetna Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 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 Aetna's Annual Report at www.aetna.com/2008annualreport.
Keywords: , Health, Children, Diabetes, Consumer, African-American, General Health, Pediatrics, Basketball, Entertainment, Insurance, Bariatrics, Obesity, Obesity and Diabetes, Wellness, Aetna.
This article was prepared by Obesity & Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Obesity & Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com.
