Aetna Awarded $600,000 To Non-Profits In Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 02, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Aetna Foundation in 2008 awarded community grants and sponsorships in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia totaling $600,000, with a particular focus on promoting wellness and targeting health disparities.

Among the community grants awarded were:

• $125,000 to the American Heart Association (D.C. chapter);
• $58,500 to the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon;
• $50,000 to the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine;
• $50,000 to Parents Achieving Success (Centers for Disease Control);
• $50,000 to the Medical Society of Northern Virginia Foundation;
• $50,000 to the D.C. Children's Hospital Foundation;
• $37,500 to Chase Brexton Health Services;
• $37,500 to the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation;
• $31,500 to the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society Foundation;
• $25,000 to the District of Columbia Primary Care Foundation;
• $25,000 to the Inova Health System Foundation;
• $25,000 to 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C.;
• $15,000 to Arundel Habitat for Humanity;
• $5,000 to the Golden Spiral Institute;
• $5,000 to the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland;
• $5,000 to the Literacy Council of Prince Georges County, Md.; and
• $5,000 to Sky Walker Flight School.

The $125,000 grant to the American Heart Association helped support the "START!" program in the greater Washington, D.C. area.  The program, part of a larger, national effort, calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health, in order to live longer, heart-healthy lives.  Aetna promoted physical activity through workplace walking programs, and worked with clients to encourage more of them to become "fit-friendly" companies.

The majority of Aetna's other Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia grants focused on programs that promote wellness and work to end health care disparities.

"Our philanthropic efforts in 2008 were aimed largely at promoting wellness," said Tom Grote, head of sales for Aetna in the region.  "We're hopeful that these efforts can help improve health outcomes for people in this area and help them lead healthier, more productive lives."

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 1 million people in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation seeks to help build healthy communities by funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where Aetna employees and customers work and live.

The Foundation's giving is focused on health, diversity and employee community involvement, with broader programs in our home sate of Connecticut. Since 1980, the Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $334 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments. In 2007, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation contributed $24.5 million nationally. 

Additional information about the Foundation is available about the Aetna Foundation is available at www.aetna.com/foundation.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 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. For more information, see www.aetna.com.