Aetna Awarded $75,000 to Utah Nonprofits in 2008

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, February 05, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Aetna Foundation in 2008 awarded community grants and sponsorships totaling $75,000, with a particular focus on health and education.

The contributions support Aetna's commitment to enhancing the quality of health care, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities. In total, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation awarded more than $25 million nationally in 2008.

The five grant recipients were:

• American Lung Association;
• The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation;
• Special Olympics;
• Community Foundation for the Disabled; and
• March of Dimes.

"Aetna is proud to support organizations in Salt Lake City which are making great strides in targeting health care issues that affect our communities," said Joanne Mizell, market head for Aetna's West region.  "As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize our obligation to help address these critical needs."

The Aetna Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the American Lung Association (ALA) for the Lung Walk and Night with The Stars, which are the organization's two largest fundraising events. The money that was raised will fund lung disease research and programs for the ALA in Utah.
 
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation received a $20,000 grant to support the Walk to Cure Diabetes program, which is the fastest growing fund raising event for the organization. The grant will help the Foundation's mission of raising funds and awareness to find a cure for diabetes.

Under a $15,000 grant, Special Olympics-Utah is planning to produce three state-level competitions in the fall and winter of 2009.

The Aetna Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to the Community Foundation for the Disabled that will help purchase a handicap-accessible van to transport people with severe disabilities who are confined to wheelchairs.

The March of Dimes received a $5,000 sponsorship for the Signature Chefs Auction which supports key programs for residents in Utah.

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 our 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 state 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 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.