Cigna 2009 Annual Report Download - page 11

Supporting Communities Near and Far 9
Driving Health Awareness-on-wheels to Communities
Chronic disease is an issue not only in the United States but around the
world. We are confronting major challenges – obesity, heart disease,
diabetes – and this is putting signifi cant pressure on health systems
worldwide. As we face a wave of disease, we need to look not just at
common determinants of health, but also at the way our society and
environment infl uence health. Research suggests that the communities
in which we work, play and live have a major impact on people’s health.
CIGNA recently unveiled the Health Awareness Tour Mobile Learning
Lab, an 18-wheel traveling exhibit that helps to raise awareness and
understanding of traditional and non-traditional infl uencers of health.
Many health awareness eff orts seek to increase individual understanding
of the importance of key “numbers,” or medical indicators of health, such
as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. While these measurements are
important, the Mobile Learning Lab takes awareness to new heights,
challenging all who tour the lab to look at health more holistically.
The Mobile Learning Lab visited communities from Florida to Michigan
and will stay on the road throughout 2010 helping people across the
country become aware of the major infl uencers of health at the individual
and community level.
CIGNA employees make
a diff erence.
March of Dimes® Campaign
Nearly 2,000 employees joined
2009 March for Babies teams, raising
$507,710 during our annual March
of Dimes campaign. CIGNA’s total
contribution to the campaign –
$1,567,710 – resulted in a fi fth place
fi nish among companies nationwide
in our support of March for Babies.
United Way®
Our offi ces across the country raised
$1,329,354 for local United Way
organizations. CIGNA Foundation
challenge grants led to a dramatic
increase in participation in our
fi eld locations.
Community Caring
More than 150 CIGNA employees across
the country applied for and received
CIGNA Foundation Community Caring
Team Awards. Many of these teams of
employees have volunteered together
for as long as 12 years. Highlighting the
CIGNA Foundation’s unique volunteer
recognition awards program was the
naming of CIGNA ophthalmologist
Dr. Eva Liang as Volunteer of the Year.
Dr. Liang’s Sight for Life Foundation
helps people with vision loss receive
treatment they could not otherwise
aff ord. In total, CIGNA volunteers
gave 16,260 hours of their time to
communities. Nonprofi ts where our
people volunteer received $46,300 in
CIGNA Foundation grants through
our Community Caring Awards.
Community service on a global scale
is at the heart of our organization.
Inside the Mobile Lab,
visitors can learn more
about what infl uences
their health and be
inspired to adopt a
healthier lifestyle.