2.15.2006 ET

(CSRwire) HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2006--Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that more than $19 million in grant funding was awarded nationally in 2005 -- $2.6 million of which was awarded through the Foundation's Regional Community Health Grant Program funding 95 nonprofit organizations in 20 states. The other $16.4 million was distributed through Aetna and the Aetna Foundation in the form of matching grants and direct awards to fund health, education, civic and community, arts and culture, and diversity initiatives.

The Regional Community Health Grants Program distributed the $2.6 million in six geographic regions, focusing on issues such as Diabetes, Cultural Competency, Children's Oral Health and Depression. Since Aetna's Regional Community Health Grants Program began in 2001, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have awarded more than $11 million, including $8 million for disparities in health programs.

"Working to build healthy communities, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation are addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health care," said Marilda L. Gandara, President of the Aetna Foundation. "For five years, the Regional Community Health Grants Program has been a major part of that effort by funding programs that improve understanding of racial and cultural diversity, and provide access to quality health care."

In addition to grants, the Aetna Foundation encourages Aetna's 27,000 employees to support their communities. Through local volunteer councils in their offices, Aetna employees have dedicated more than 650,000 hours of service to strengthen and enrich communities and towns across the country. As part of this initiative, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation match much of the money employees raise for specific charities, doubling the amount donated. Aetna employees contributed over $825,000 for disaster relief efforts in 2005, which included the tsunami and the hurricanes in the Gulf states. Through the company's matching gifts program, Aetna, the Aetna Foundation and its employees contributed over $1.6 million.

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. Since 1980, the Aetna Foundation has contributed more than $270 million in grants, scholarships and social investments. The Foundation's giving is focused on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Additional information about the Aetna Foundation is available at www.aetna.com/foundation.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 27.9 million unique members 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, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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