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Aetna Foundation Awards Grants Totaling $280,000 in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 December 2006, 09:01 CST

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Aetna Foundation announced that they have awarded grants totaling $280,000 to nine organizations located in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The amounts and recipients of the grants are:

$40,000 to the Inova Health System Foundation, Falls Church, Va.;

$35,000 to Chase Brexton Health Services, Baltimore;

$35,000 to IONA Senior Services, Washington, D.C.;

$35,000 to the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation, Baltimore;

$30,000 to Columbia Road Health Services, Washington, D.C.;

$30,000 to La Clinica del Pueblo, Washington, D.C.;

$25,000 to Northern Virginia Family Service, Oakton, Va.;

$25,000 to the Links Foundation, Washington, D.C.;

$25,000 to Center for a Healthy Maryland, Baltimore;.

"Aetna has a long commitment to improving access to health care and improving the quality of life of citizens where we have a significant presence," said Jeff Lucht, head of National Accounts for Aetna's Mid-Atlantic Region. "We're very pleased to work with organizations in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia who share those goals, and are taking significant measures to achieve them."

Aetna awarded a $40,000 grant to support the Perinatal Concerns program run by the Inova Health System Foundation. The program is designed to help parents and caregivers better understand the issues and choices involved in dealing with an adverse fetal diagnosis or a dying infant. The program provides physical and emotional resources to support families making end-of-life decisions for their infants.

Chase Brexton Health Services received a $35,000 grant to support its Depression in Primary Care program, which assigns mental health clinicians to the medical clinic to integrate with primary care staff. Together they will screen patients for depression and help facilitate treatment planning.

Aetna awarded a $35,000 grant to IONA Senior Services to support a program that works to improve end-of-life care for Alzheimer's patients and their families. Working with community partners, IONA helps prepare families for end-of-life decisions related to family members with Alzheimer's.

The University of Maryland Medical System Foundation received a $35,000 grant to help fund its "Get Fit Maryland" program for Baltimore children. The 12-week community service project is aimed at targeting obesity among Maryland children. Working with the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the foundation will pilot "overweight prevention toolkits" that can be used by physicians caring for disadvantaged children in the city.

Under a $30,000 Aetna grant, Columbia Road Health Services will enhance its depression screening, training and treatment program in Washington, D.C. The program uses experienced, bilingual therapists to work with primary care doctors and social services agencies to provide comprehensive screening and treatment for depression.

Aetna awarded a $30,000 grant to La Clinica del Pueblo to address depression in immigrant Latinos in the Washington, D.C. area. Mental health staff will provide Latinos with education regarding their symptoms and risk for depression; screen and diagnose patients; and provide treatment for those suffering from depression and related illnesses.

Northern Virginia Family Service received a $25,000 grant for a comprehensive oral health program to increase community awareness of the importance of oral health and good nutrition. A new oral health education curriculum will be developed for home-based and center-based sites.

Aetna awarded a $25,000 grant to the Links Foundation to support its "Links to Healthy Smiles" program, which helps connect vulnerable Washington, D.C. communities with dental health care and resources and support services. Howard University College of Dentistry students will conduct oral health screenings at elementary schools and community centers as part of the program.

Center for a Healthy Maryland will operate a program aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of maternal depression under a $25,000 grant. The project will build on previous efforts to help clinicians better diagnose and manage depression among pregnant and post-partum women in their care.

The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation helps build healthy communities by promoting volunteerism, forming partnerships and funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where our employees and customers live and work.

Since inception of this program in 2001, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have awarded more than $11 million to address critical health issues in communities across the country. The 2006 program focuses on supporting philanthropic initiatives that target depression, childhood health (oral health and obesity, including diabetes) and end-of-life care. Special consideration is given to programs that serve racially and ethnically diverse populations and that enhance access to quality health information and health care..

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.8 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. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

Source: Business Wire

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