New grant program to support 15 nonprofits
focused on addressing health disparities in Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Nov. 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cigna Group Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), announced today
the first round of grant recipients – comprised of 15 nonprofits
across Hartford, CT, and
Houston, TX – for The Cigna Group
Health Equity Impact Fund. Through this new program, The Cigna
Group Foundation will allocate $9
million to nonprofit organizations over the next three years
as part of its continuing focus on reducing health disparities.
"The Cigna Group Foundation is committed to advancing health
equity in underserved communities, and we are starting this crucial
work in Hartford and Houston, where gaps in care can be especially
pronounced," said Melissa
Skottegaard, board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. "To
reduce these disparities and address the root causes, we will work
with local nonprofits to expand access to key resources, including
fresh fruits and vegetables, reliable transportation, and
culturally appropriate care. By partnering with these 15 incredible
organizations within our first round of grants, we can have a
greater impact improving the health and vitality of those we
serve."
The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund will focus on specific
geographies where health inequities are significant and work
collaboratively to support, convene, and collaborate with nonprofit
organizations serving local community members. The fund will
operate on a hyper-local level in select U.S. cities, starting with
Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX. The first grantee cohort will
receive a total of $3 million across
the two cities.
In Hartford, seven grantees
were awarded funding: Charter Oak Health Center, Inc., Hartford
Public Library, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (LVGH), Malta House of Care,
Inc., The Health Collective, The University of
Connecticut Foundation, Inc., and Wheeler Clinic,
Inc.
Hartford programs support Black
and Hispanic adults ages 18 and older to increase and enable access
to culturally appropriate care. Services to be enabled by the
funding include:
- Increasing access to Federally Qualified Health Center
appointments beyond urgent care.
- Increasing access to health screenings and transportation to
Hartford Public Library sites.
- Activating three mobile units with Community Health Workers and
additional culturally appropriate staff.
- Increasing access to vital health screenings through the
Healthier Hartford Program (via LVGH).
In Houston, eight grantees were
awarded funding: American Heart Association in Houston, Bread of Life, Inc., Hispanic Health
Coalition, Lucille's 1913 Community Kitchen, Memorial Assistance
Ministries, Precinct2gether, Inc., Second Servings of Houston, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston.
Houston programs support
Hispanic adults ages 18 and older to address and reduce the
prevalence of obesity and diabetes. Services to be enabled by the
funding include:
- Implementing Lifestyle RX, a diabetes reversal program.
- Creating pop-up grocery stores in high-need areas.
- Providing adults with diabetes with nutrition education and
access to registered dieticians.
- Promoting healthy eating through cooking demonstrations
conducted in Spanish.
- Increasing Community Health Worker engagement, in which they
can refer community members to fresh food pantries and conduct
screenings.
The Cigna Group Foundation recently announced a philanthropic
and community engagement initiative that has committed more than
$27 million in grants over the next
three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth
mental health, improving veteran mental health, and reducing
barriers to health equity. The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact
Fund is part of these grants.
More information on The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund
can be found here.
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 183 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 aims to support, collaborate, and
convene with nonprofit organizations addressing society's greatest
health challenges. In addition to increasing access to programs and
care in geographies demonstrating significant need, the Foundation
responds with humanitarian aid relief during critical times and
strengthens colleagues' support of causes through matching
donations and volunteer rewards. To learn more, visit
www.thecignagroup.com/community.
Media Contact
Jocelyn Parker
(313) 510-4173
Jocelyn.Parker@CignaHealthcare.com
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SOURCE The Cigna Group
