[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       AETNA'S ``GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP'' VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY

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                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to 
report on the ``Good Corporate Citizenship'' of AETNA, a constituent 
company in my district. During the week of April 26th, approximately 
1,100 employees from Aetna's Consumer Markets segment across the 
country will donate more than 4,400 hours to charitable causes in their 
communities.
  Aetna has a long history of volunteerism and contributing to the 
communities where it operates. In 2003, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation 
contributed approximately $16.5 million nationally, with nearly $4.4 
million directed at entities in Connecticut, Aetna's home State for 150 
years.
  Every day, Aetna employees across the country demonstrate their 
compassion and commitment to this goal by devoting hundreds of hours of 
personal time to volunteerism. This commitment has created what is now 
recognized as Aetna's ``Culture of Caring''--a tradition of 
volunteerism that has become a part of Aetna's core values.
  As part of this April 2004 charitable initiative, employees from 20 
sites around the country will join together to make an impact in the 
lives of others. In my home State of Connecticut, this fine group of 
Aetna employees will focus on assisting The Children's Home of 
Cromwell, where they will collect school supplies and backpacks for 
resident children; The American Red Cross, where employees will paint 
houses and clean yards for low-income housing residents; Foodshare of 
Greater Hartford, where Aetna staff will participate in the Walk 
Against Hunger and will sort food at the Hartford Farmer's Market; The 
Shepherd Home, where employees will collect small appliances and 
furniture for transitional housing residents; and Community Renewal 
Team, where Aetna employees will paint classrooms for low-income, 
inner-city preschools, read to students, and provide nutritional 
snacks.
  Being a leader in health care is a source of pride for the entire 
Aetna community. I am proud to represent Connecticut and Aetna's 
employees, especially as they demonstrate that corporate responsibility 
and employee volunteerism are key business objectives, objectives which 
help make Aetna such an integral part of the local community.

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