Grandparent Caregivers, Migrant Families Benefit From Aetna Grant

TAMPA, FL -- The Aetna Foundation has awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to 25 nonprofits across the U.S. as part of its larger Building Healthy Communities initiative.

Among the recipients, The Children's Home Inc., which received $100,000.

The award will be used to help grandparent caregivers struggling with poverty and poor health. They will learn skills to improve their and their grandchildren's well-being through a peer-supported self-management approach that addresses diet, physical activity and stress management.

Other recipients included Urban Health Partnerships Inc., which received $100,000 to work other local nonprofit groups to achieve policy changes that create social and built environments that meet the needs of older adults.

Redlands Christian Migrant Association Inc. was awarded $60,000 to support three charter schools serving low-income populations in programs to improve the health of students and their families through organized physical activity, access to community gardens, and education on stress reduction techniques.

Meals on Wheels America has been awarded a $174,000 grant to provide adequate nutrition for seniors at risk of malnutrition following hospitalization.

And Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign has been awarded a $225,000 grant to increase access to free school breakfasts for 10,000 students in Texas and Florida schools.

“We know there’s no single solution to building a healthy community,” said Karen Lynch, a member of the board of the directors for the Aetna Foundation and president of Aetna. “In order to make a real, lasting impact, we must empower the organizations on the ground who understand the unique needs and challenges of that community with the tools they need to create and implement local solutions.”

This year, CHC funding is focused on projects in which residents have a lead role in designing and implementing the activities. Youth empowerment is a specific priority, with more than $800,000 awarded to projects that will mobilize youth leaders to address community health concerns. In addition, awards totaling more than $750,000 have been designated for projects that seek to promote health through changes to local policy.

Since 2016, the Aetna Foundation has awarded more $6 million in grants through the CHC program, which is a cornerstone of its multimillion-dollar commitment to Building Healthy Communities.

Image via Aetna