The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), announced today the first round of grant for health equity recipients – comprised of 15 nonprofits across Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX – for The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund. Through this new program, The Cigna Group Foundation will allocate $9 million to nonprofit organizations over the next three years as part of its continuing focus on reducing health disparities.

"The Cigna Group Foundation is committed to giving grants for health equity in underserved communities, and we are starting this crucial work in Hartford and Houston, where gaps in care can be especially pronounced," said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. "To reduce these disparities and address the root causes, we will work with local nonprofits to expand access to key resources, including fresh fruits and vegetables, reliable transportation, and culturally appropriate care. By partnering with these 15 incredible organizations within our first round of grants, we can have a greater impact improving the health and vitality of those we serve."

The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund will focus on giving grants for health equity in specific geographies where health inequities are significant and work collaboratively to support, convene, and collaborate with nonprofit organizations serving local community members. The fund will operate on a hyper-local level in select U.S. cities, starting with Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX. The first grantee cohort will receive a total of $3 million in grants for health equity across the two cities.

In Hartford, seven grantees were awarded grants for health equity: Charter Oak Health Center, Inc., Hartford Public Library, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (LVGH), Malta House of Care, Inc., The Health Collective, The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc., and Wheeler Clinic, Inc.

Hartford programs support Black and Hispanic adults ages 18 and older to increase and enable access to culturally appropriate care. Services to be enabled by the grants for health equity include:

  • Increasing access to Federally Qualified Health Center appointments beyond urgent care.
  • Increasing access to health screenings and transportation to Hartford Public Library sites.
  • Activating three mobile units with Community Health Workers and additional culturally appropriate staff.
  • Increasing access to vital health screenings through the Healthier Hartford Program (via LVGH).

Read the full article about grants for health equity at PR Newswire.