In Texas, Aetna employees volunteered 14,595 hours in 2007, and 58,625 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.

When Dallas-based Thomas Metcalf, a data services analyst, isn’t in the office, he focuses energy on raising money and awareness for the Lone Star Ride Fighting Aids.

For the last four years, Metcalf has worked to help plan the logistics of an annual cycling event, recruit volunteers and raise funds. During the event, Tom serves as a pit crew manager, making sure that the roughly 150 riders are cared for during the grueling 175-mile event by setting up rest stations, supplying food and drinks, and keeping riders motivated.

To date, the Lone Star Ride has raised more than $1 million for The Resource Center Dallas, AIDS Services of Dallas and AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County.

"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