- Grant application now open for nonprofits that aim to
improve youth mental health
- New multiyear philanthropic and community engagement
initiative will also prioritize the mental health of veterans
through housing stability and reducing barriers to health
equity
- Initiative encourages employee volunteerism, and launches
with volunteer events to assemble mental well-being packs for local
Boys & Girls Clubs
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., April 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing
commitment to community health and vitality, global health company
The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) today announced a multiyear
philanthropic and community engagement initiative focused on
partnering with nonprofit organizations with expertise in three
essential areas: improving youth mental health, bolstering veteran
mental health through housing stability and services, and
addressing barriers to health equity. As part of this engagement
initiative, The Cigna Group Foundation will allocate more than
$27 million in grants to nonprofit
organizations over the next three years.
"The Cigna Group Foundation has a proud history of helping
improve local communities through high-performing partnerships with
nonprofit organizations," said Melissa
Skottegaard, board chair, The Cigna Group Foundation. "Our
society is only just beginning to recognize the scale of the mental
health crisis for young people coming out of the pandemic, and our
company is committed to doing our part to address these challenges
that affect so many of us. We look forward to partnering with
nonprofit organizations to improve the health of the communities we
serve locally, nationally, and around the world."
Grant application to support youth mental health now
open
According to a recent study from Economist Impact, commissioned
by The Cigna Group, nearly half of parents surveyed (47%) reported
their teen is experiencing mental health challenges like anxiety
and depression. To help address this crisis, The Cigna Group
Foundation has opened its grant application for organizations in
select states and is encouraging nonprofits that specialize in
supporting youth mental health and well-being to apply. The
application will be open through May 22,
2024.
The Cigna Group Foundation's goals with these grants include
increasing the reach of programming that fosters social-emotional
skills and well-being, increasing the number of parents,
caregivers, and youth service professionals who feel equipped to
support; and increasing pathways to mental health intervention and
access to care. The grant program will address post-pandemic stress
and distress among 5–18-year-olds, with a first-year
focus on programs and services delivered in schools and related
settings.
The Cigna Group Foundation will prioritize grants in regions
where The Cigna Group serves a significant number of customers with
high and very high social determinant of health risks, including
Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, and Texas, and targeted international
communities.
To kick off the new initiative, employees volunteer in
support of new grantee Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Among the first grantees is Boys & Girls Clubs of America,
which will use funding to work with local clubs to train staff on
how to identify the signs and symptoms of youth in distress and
become trauma-informed in their policies, practices, and programs.
As part of the new initiative's focus on enhancing volunteer
opportunities for The Cigna Group's employees, hundreds of
colleagues gathered in Bloomfield,
Conn., Orlando, Fla. and
St. Louis, Mo. to assemble mental
well-being kits for distribution to local Boys & Girls Clubs.
The kits included items such as stress balls, fidget key chains,
and writing journals to help young people practice techniques that
promote positive mental well-being. Additional employee volunteer
events with the youth organization will occur in various offices
throughout the months of April and May and will include activities
for virtual employees to increase their mental health literacy as
they seek to support youth in the community at organizations such
as Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
"We are grateful for the support of The Cigna Group Foundation
to help young people gain access to critical programs that will
help them build healthy coping strategies to manage stress and
trauma in a supportive, constructive environment," said
Chad Hartman, national vice
president of corporate partnership and engagement, Boys & Girls
Clubs of America. "The mental and physical health of our nation's
youth largely hinges on the village that surrounds them, and we are
grateful that this partnership will allow us to expand that to more
kids and teens across the nation."
Health equity and veteran wellness part of broader community
engagement initiative
In addition to supporting nonprofits focusing on youth mental
health, The Cigna Group Foundation will also look to partner with
and provide grants to nonprofit organizations with expertise in the
following areas:
- Improving the mental health of military
veterans through housing stability and homeownership with
support services.
- Reducing barriers to health equity through the newly
formed The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund that will launch
later this year in targeted areas with significant social
determinants of health that put that community's health and
vitality most at risk.
Later this year, The Cigna Group Foundation will open
applications for nonprofits focusing on veteran housing and
reducing health disparities in communities.
For frequently asked questions (FAQs) and to apply for a grant,
visit the Community website.
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a
global health company committed to creating a better future built
on the vitality of every individual and every community. We
relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions
for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services
marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its
subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more
than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 189 million
customer relationships around the world. Learn more at
thecignagroup.com.
About The Cigna Group Foundation
The Cigna Group
Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from The
Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group
Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to
enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the
well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those
communities where employees of The Cigna Group live and work.
Media Contact
Jocelyn Parker
(313) 510-4173
Jocelyn.Parker@CignaHealthcare.com
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SOURCE The Cigna Group