200 students at Thew Elementary will receive backpacks filled with
healthy food each weekend throughout the school year, made possible
through a Cigna Foundation grant to Blessings
in a Backpack. The national child hunger relief non-profit will
implement a three-year program at the school. To kick off the program,
sponsored by Cigna (NYSE: CI), all 670 Thew Elementary students will
receive backpacks during a special event tomorrow morning.
200 students at Thew Elementary will receive backpacks filled with healthy food each weekend throughout the school year, made possible through a Cigna Foundation grant to Blessings in a Backpack. (Photo: Business Wire)
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell will start the program with opening remarks.
Arizona Cardinals center and offensive captain Lyle Sendlein will
encourage students to adopt healthy habits and stay in school. Students
will also get a visit from the Cardinals mascot Big Red, who will engage
the kids in fitness-related activities. Representatives from Thew, Cigna
and Blessings will also attend.
"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 the Cigna Foundation and Cigna will help bring
national attention to the Blessings mission of feeding hungry children.
Together, we can fight to end childhood hunger."
“The Cigna Foundation is committed to building a future where every
child has the opportunity to achieve a healthier, more secure life,”
said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the Cigna Foundation.
“Hunger has a significant impact on a child’s physical, mental and
academic well-being. By working together with Blessings, we can ensure
students come to school each day healthy, engaged and ready to learn.”
“Nearly 30 percent of Arizona’s children face hunger, which is higher
than the national average,” said Edward Kim, president and general
manager for Cigna in Arizona. “As a member of the community and as a
provider of care through Cigna Medical Group, this program aligns with
our focus on helping kids and families stay healthy.”
At the event, Cigna dental mascot Mikey Molar will lead a school wide
dance-off and 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 the Cigna Foundation and Cigna. Child wellness is a key focus
of Cigna’s corporate responsibility platform, Cigna Connects. In
addition, Rich Stephens, Cigna's vice president of business development,
serves on the Blessings in a Backpack board of directors.
Funding for the food-filled backpacks was provided by the Cigna
Foundation. The Cigna Foundation and Cigna have contributed $450,000 to
Blessings in a Backpack, including a $100,000 World
of Difference grant to expand the program in schools nationwide.
Cigna's commitment to improving the health and well-being of the Arizona
community extends beyond the Blessings in a Backpack program. For nearly
30 years, Cigna and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation
Department’s Aquatic Section have provided free swim events for kids of
all ages through the Cigna
Summer Water Safety Program. Additionally, Cigna has raised more
than $500,000 for St.
Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, which will feed nearly 900,000 families
throughout Arizona.
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 76,000 children in 44 states, the District of
Columbia and 780 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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