In Texas, Aetna employees volunteered nearly 15,000 hours in 2007, and approximately 60,000 hours since 2003.

As one of the country’s largest health insurance companies with 34,000 employees nationwide, Aetna encourages its employees to support their communities through an award-winning volunteer support program and network of highly engaged volunteer councils. Employees from more than 40 councils take part in fundraisers, team projects, disaster relief and a range of other activities.

Working in Aetna’s Arlington office, Christine Snoberg is considered by her peers as a person who leads by example. Snoberg oversees the Arlington Aetna Employee Volunteer Council, one of the most active Aetna councils in the country, and devotes time to animal rescue programs such as the Texas Ferret Lovers Rescue, Saving Pyrenees in Need, Humane Animal Rescue Team, Petite Paws Pet Advocates, DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue and Ferret Lovers Club of Texas.

Snoberg also helps children by donating her hair to Wigs for Kids, an organization that collects donated hair and makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness. Typically taking two years to grow her hair out to the minimum length requirement, Snoberg has four times donated her hair for the cause.

"We are proud that our employees are engaged in community service throughout the communities in which we work and live. Our employee’s actions are consistent with the Aetna Way and we thank them for being active contributors in their cities and towns," said Ralph Holmes, head of Aetna’s small and middle market business segment in Texas.

The company’s multifaceted volunteer program, Aetna Employees Reaching Out, combines online tools with management support to encourage and facilitate employee participation.

This spring, the company is also kicking off its second annual "Get Active for a Cause" initiative, which incorporates Aetna’s employee wellness program with exercise-related events such as walks, runs, bike rides, and relays — for nonprofit causes. If up to 750 employees participate, the Aetna Foundation will award a grant up to $30,000 to a national nonprofit organization that will be selected by the employees. Last year, Aetna employees met the challenge and the Foundation donated $30,000 to the national Sports Center for the Disabled.

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. Aetna and the Aetna Foundation contributed more than $24 million in grants and sponsorships in 2007. 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 is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 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, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. www.aetna.com