Blessings in a Backpack, Cigna Foundation and Cigna Provide Weekend Meals to George Washington Carver Elementary School Stude...
March 26 2015 - 1:30PM
Business Wire
- Program will feed 200 grade-school
students throughout the school year
- More than 500 students will receive
food-filled backpacks at kickoff tomorrow
- Dental mascot Mikey Molar will teach
kids about the importance of oral hygiene
Two hundred students at George Washington Carver Elementary
School 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, which is sponsored by Cigna
(NYSE:CI), all 520 George Washington Carver Elementary School
students will receive backpacks during a special event tomorrow
morning.
Cigna dental mascot Mikey Molar will help
teach George Washington Carver Elementary School students about the
link between nutrition and good oral health. (Photo: Business
Wire)
The event will begin with an assembly to teach students about
the importance of proper nutrition for healthy bodies, and will
include a special performance from the fifth grade class at George
Washington Carver Elementary. Richmond Public School Superintendent
Dr. Dana T. Bedden will attend, along with representatives from
Cigna and Blessings in a Backpack. Cigna dental mascot Mikey Molar
will also make a special appearance to teach students about the
link between nutrition and good oral health.
"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.”
“More than one in six children in Virginia face a constant
struggle against hunger,” said Julia Huggins, president of Cigna's
Mid-Atlantic market. “Child health and well-being is a primary
focus for Cigna, and we’re proud to work with Blessings in a
Backpack as we focus on helping kids and families stay well.”
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. 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.
About Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack, People Magazine’s 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.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150326006105/en/
Media Contacts:CignaLauren Moyer,
215-761-3647Lauren.Moyer@Cigna.comorBlessings in a BackpackJenny
Scherer, 757-810-6036jennyscherer@blessingsinabackpack.org
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