Students at Treadwell Elementary will receive something extra in their
backpacks this year. As part of a three-year program implemented by
national child hunger relief non-profit Blessings
in a Backpack, 200 students will receive backpacks filled with
nutritious food each weekend throughout the school year. To kick off the
program, sponsored by Cigna (NYSE:CI) and supported by a grant from the
Cigna Foundation, participating students will receive their backpacks
during a special event this afternoon.
Blessings in a Backpack is a results-oriented program designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federally funded National School Lunch Program and have little or no access to healthy food on the weekends. (Photo: Business Wire)
Shelby County Schools’ chief of staff Reginald Porter, Jr. will kick off
the program with opening remarks. Former NBA players Elliott Perry and
Andre Turner and former NFL player Glenn Rogers will encourage students
to adopt healthy habits and stay in school. Representatives from
Treadwell, Cigna, Blessings and Shelby County Schools Office of
Coordinated School Health will also attend. The Mitchell
High School Band will perform.
"Our backpacks give children the food they need during those times when
free or reduced-priced school lunches are not available, such as on
weekends," said Kevin Beam, chief operating officer for Blessings in a
Backpack. "Working with Cigna and the Cigna Foundation will help bring
national attention to the Blessings mission of feeding hungry children.
Together, we can fight to end childhood hunger."
“Without proper nutrition, children have difficulty focusing in school
and are at a higher risk for tooth decay and absenteeism due to
illness,” said Mary Tate-Smith, Cigna's vice president in Memphis.
“We’re thrilled to work alongside Blessings in a Backpack to ensure
students in Memphis have the tools they need to live healthier lives.”
In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Cigna dental mascot
Mikey Molar will teach students about the link between nutrition and
good oral health. The kids will receive dental care supplies and oral
health information in their backpacks.
Blessings in a Backpack is a results-oriented program designed to feed
elementary school children whose families qualify for the federally
funded National School Lunch Program and have little or no access to
healthy food on the weekends. The program is supported nationally and
locally by Cigna and Rich Stephens, Cigna's vice president of business
development, serves on the Blessings in a Backpack board of directors.
Child wellness is a key focus of Cigna’s corporate responsibility
platform, Cigna Connects.
Funding for the food-filled backpacks was provided by the Cigna
Foundation. Cigna and the Cigna Foundation have contributed $450,000 to
Blessings in a Backpack, including a $100,000 World
of Difference grant to expand the program’s reach nationwide.
Cigna's commitment to child wellness in Memphis extends beyond the
school year. For the past two years, Cigna and the Cigna Foundation have
worked with the City of Memphis and Mayor A C Wharton to provide
healthy, free meals to youth during the summer as part of the City of
Memphis Summer Food Service Program. To date, the Cigna Foundation has
provided more than $200,000 to fund the program.
About Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack, People Magazines Charity of 2012, is a
results-oriented program that is designed to feed elementary school
children whose families qualify for the federally funded National School
Lunch Program and have little or no food on the weekends. Better test
scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and
increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this
program. As little as $100 feeds one American school child in our
program for an entire 38-week school year. Blessings in a Backpack is
currently feeding over 72,000 children in 44 states, the District of
Columbia and 700+ schools. Please visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org.
We are Feeding the Future of America® – one school at a time.
About the Cigna Foundation
The Cigna Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions
from Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna
Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing
the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their
communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna
employees live and work.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) is a global health service company dedicated
to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of
security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or
through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life
Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna
Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include
an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental,
behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other
related products including group life, accident and disability
insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and
jurisdictions, and has approximately 85 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
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