Cigna Foundation Announces Tip the Scales in Your Favor Wyoming ‘Grant Roundup’

23 Feb 2016, 00:00 AM CST

Seeking grant proposals by March 23 from interested non-profits
Focusing on obesity and smoking/tobacco use
Supporting Wyoming’s public health objectives, local economy, lives of
state residents

CHEYENNE, Wyo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Cigna Foundation today announced a “Grant Roundup” in Wyoming,
seeking grant proposals from non-profits that can help residents either
reduce obesity or the use of tobacco products. These priorities have an
impact on local Wyoming businesses and residents while addressing the
public health needs prioritized by Gov. Matt Mead and Thomas O.
Forslund, state director of the Wyoming Department of Health.

The Cigna Foundation will make available up to $70,000 in Tip the
Scales in Your Favor grants that reflect the Cigna Foundation’s
objective of improving health in Wyoming with preference given to
programs that address weight and tobacco, the issues most often voiced
by Cigna’s individual customers, health care providers, employers and
elected officials in Wyoming.

“Addressing obesity in Wyoming is a priority. Lifestyle behaviors that
cause obesity contribute to health conditions that detract from quality
of life and drive up health costs for the state, employers and
individuals,” said Dr. Mark Laitos, Cigna’s senior medical director.
“Obesity is behind many of our state’s residents’ most pressing health
concerns, such as hip and knee replacements, back surgery, diabetes,
cancer, heart disease and stroke, digestive disorders and more.”

According to Kim Bimestefer, president of Cigna’s Mountain States
region, “Cigna invests in the communities where we live and work, and we
live and work in Wyoming. It is our privilege to serve the health
benefit needs of more than 30 percent of individual Wyoming residents
who have health benefits through their employers. The bottom line is
that excess weight and tobacco use are fueling diseases that prevent
individuals from pursuing their dreams. These challenges also reduce the
competitiveness of local businesses, which impacts jobs, the local
economy and even state and municipal budgets. We have the ability to
work together with Wyoming non-profit organizations to address these
specific challenges more effectively, and we are excited to do just
that.”

The Cigna Foundation is requesting ideas from Wyoming non-profits
working to help residents overcome tobacco use, reduce obesity and
increase physical activity. Interested organizations are asked to send
proposals outlining their programs to Foundationgrants@cigna.com
by March 23. Once all ideas are reviewed, the Cigna Foundation will
contact organizations with whom it wants to explore relationships.

“Through our grants, we can help individuals understand the connections
between weight, chronic disease and health care costs, and we can help
support Wyoming residents who are ready and eager to take steps to
improve their health,” said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the
Cigna Foundation.

About the Cigna Foundation

The Cigna Foundation, founded in 1962, 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 more than 90 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.