Cigna
, MACo Gold Corporate Partner, recently announced their Foundation will provide up to $5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations working to reduce child food insecurity through their Healthier Kids For Our Future grant program.
Regular access to nutritious and sufficient food is the starting point for a healthier, more productive life. More than
12 million children in America
experience food insecurity, which can significantly impact their physical and mental health. Lack of quality nutrition can lead to physical and mental health problems, emotional and behavioral problems, obesity and preventable chronic conditions that may be carried into adulthood.
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The Cigna Foundation seeks to immediately address this challenge by funding programs that bracket or augment school-related efforts to provide food and nutritional education to children. U.S. schools are a focal point for addressing child health issues, and many already have programs and partnerships offering food and nutrition support.
“We want to make an immediate impact on the health and well-being of children, and feel we can best do so by supporting organizations that are working to reduce hunger and food insecurity in their communities and schools today,” said Susan Stith, executive director, Cigna Foundation.
Examples of programs eligible for funding through the Healthier Kids For Our Future grant program include:
- Community-based programs that support access to healthy meals and nutritional education outside the school setting, on weekends and during the summer.
- Food and nutritional programs that provide support for expectant mothers and caregivers.
- Programs that address the food and nutrition needs of preschool children.
- Health care provider efforts that navigate patients to nutritional education and/or food as prescription programming.
- School-based programs that enhance or augment state and/or federal assistance efforts.
