The funding is targeted to support a special national initiative of Rebuilding Together, which involves assisting veterans in need of accessibility modifications and / or other home repairs.

"Aetna has been part of the Hartford community for over 150 years, and we are proud to support our neighbors, particularly those veterans who have represented our community and served our nation in the armed forces," said Susan M. Peters, president, Aetna Government Health Plans. "Too many people right here in Hartford do not know what it’s like to live in a safe and comfortable home. Due to illness, disability, the loss of a spouse, aging or economic hardships, many are unable to do the repair work their homes need, and their homes deteriorate or become unsafe as a result. The goal of this grant is to help meet these needs."

The award will be presented to Greg Secord, executive director of Rebuilding Together Hartford by Ms. Peters and by Dana Benbow, president of Aetna Group Insurance, at a Rebuilding Together board meeting in Hartford today.

"It is so important that we all come together to assist our neighbors who are most in need, and we thank Aetna and the Aetna Foundation for helping us do just that," Secord said. "We are especially happy to be able to serve our Connecticut veterans, since they have served us all with their service. It’s time to give back."

Rebuilding Together Hartford, Inc., is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer organization dedicated to helping low-income homeowners, through home renovation and repair. Its goal is to keep people living in warmth, safety and independence, while helping to build better neighborhoods in Hartford. For more information, visit www.rthartford.org.

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 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $334 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments. Visit www.aetna.com/foundation for more information.

Aetna (NYSE: AET) is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.7 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 and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, government-sponsored plans and expatriates www.aetna.com