Aetna 2007 Annual Report Download - page 17

Aetna has been recognized by the EPA as one of the
“Best Workplaces for Commuters from the Fortune
500 Companies,” helping to reduce vehicular pollution.
Funding healthier communities
Aetna has a long history of helping
to build healthier communities across
the country through its philanthropic
initiatives and volunteer activities.
In 2007, Aetna employees logged
more than 295,000 hours of community
service, while Aetna and the Aetna
Foundation contributed more than
$24 million in grants and sponsorships.
Of that total, $6 million was awarded
through the Healthy Community Grants
Program, helping to make a real difference
in the health of many communities.
■
In Chicago, Aetna committed $375,000
over three years to help the American
Heart Association’s “Start!” program
work with employers to create a
workplace environment of physical
activity and health consciousness that
will help prevent heart disease and
stroke among employees.
■
About $475,000 awarded to Atlanta-
area nonprofi ts was focused on
helping minorities prevent or better
manage their diabetes. One best-
practice initiative was an Aetna Town
Hall Meeting on Childhood Obesity,
which included a panel of experts
addressing the minority community
about the dangers of childhood obesity.
■
In the Philadelphia area, one of the
more innovative programs we funded
provides depression screening and
prevention education annually for three
years for 550 minority women. Research
shows that as many as 50 percent of
urban minority postpartum depression
cases go undetected — impairing the
healthy development of many inner-
city infants.
A greener world
As a health care company, Aetna is
dedicated to helping people achieve health
and fi nancial security, and we believe
fostering a healthful environment is an
important part of this mission. In 2007,
we adopted a policy statement that clearly
spells out our commitment to limiting
our environmental impact by reducing
our energy consumption and the use of
other resources. We also are committed
to identifying emerging environmental
issues that we can help address because
we recognize the impact of a clean
environment on the health of communities
across the country.
Aetna Foundation
contributed more than
$24 million in grants
and sponsorships.
Aetna is a participant in the Business
Roundtable’s “Climate Resolve”
initiative. Specifi cally, Aetna has
implemented:
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A corporate-wide initiative to
reduce paper usage both internally
and externally, with the goal of
transforming today’s paper-driven
business process to an e-driven
process by 2010.
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The recycling of paper, cardboard,
glass and plastic bottles at Aetna-
owned facilities. Aetna also has
recycled fl uorescent lightbulbs since
1994, long before it was required.
■
The use of energy-saving devices
and equipment to minimize power
consumption, and the purchase of
ultra-low sulfur fuels for generators
and boilers.
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