Aetna builds healthy communities by promoting volunteerism, forming partnerships, and funding initiatives to improve the quality of life for its employees and customers. Supporting the arts and people with an artistic background aligns with Aetna’s goal of creating a talented, diverse workforce to sustain its leadership position while building healthier communities. Since 2006, Aetna has contributed more than $7 million supporting over 437 national and local arts programs, events, and activities.

 

Aetna’s employees are committed to providing leadership to arts organizations’ programming and fundraising efforts. It was among the first to host a workplace giving campaign in 1995 and to enter the “$100,000 Club,” a special designation by the Greater Hartford Arts Council given to companies whose employees raise more than $100,000 per year for the arts. Since the designation, its employees have given over $1.5 million to the arts. Since 2003, Aetna and its employees have logged more than 4.3 million volunteer hours for numerous arts and non-arts initiatives. Currently, its employees perform with local arts organizations, hold in house art and talent shows, occasionally listen to its employee gospel choir and celebrate its award winning jazz band, which has jammed at numerous events including BCA 10 galas.

 

Nationally, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have granted the Adventures of Little Noodle, produced by Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts as part of the Center’s childhood obesity Initiative; the Sphinx Virtuosi tour which enables musicians to inspire children to explore classical music as a possible career while promoting healthy behaviors; the nationally acclaimed 105 Voices of History choir comprised of Aetna student health ambassadors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities who use music to address various health issues on their campuses. Locally, Aetna supports Hartford-based organizations including The Greater Hartford Arts Council, The Connecticut Forum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, The Bushnell, The Amistad Center for Art & Culture and TheaterWorks. Finally, the Tony Award winning Hartford Stage and its Aetna New Voices Fellows’ partnership, has won a Pulitzer Prize and helped to launch new works from writers and directors that are being produced on stages nationally and internationally.

 

Headquartered in Hartford, CT, Aetna and its employees continue to think of new ways to expand its commitment to the arts. Mindfulness in the workplace and the support of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM) provide a platform for the arts to play a vital role in developing the next generation of leaders. From music to dance, fine arts to performing arts, Aetna believes the arts can enhance one’s personal wellbeing, revitalize a community and create a world that bridges cultures and differences. A 2011 BCA 10 honoree, Aetna is thrilled to receive the prestigious 2016 Hall of Fame award.