PITTSBURGH, Penn., July 11, 2024 — As part its ongoing effort to support the health and vitality of local youth through community giving, hundreds of employees from across The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) built Little Free Libraries and assembled stuffed animal “Reading Buddies” to encourage summer reading and enrichment among kids throughout the Pittsburgh region.
“Our colleagues truly embody our mission to improve the health and vitality of all those we serve – both across the country and right here in Pittsburgh,” said Melissa Skottegaard, head of community programs and board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. “Reading helps to build social and emotional skills, reduces loneliness and combats summer learning loss. That’s why we are grateful that so many of our employees could come together to support such an important project for local youth.”
Little Free Libraries provide book-sharing boxes in which anyone may take a book or share a book in local communities. More than 500 employees came together to build the libraries, along with the Reading Buddies, which come complete with a birth certificate, travel case – and a ‘letter’ from the stuffed animal to the kids. The Little Free Libraries will be shipped to Little Free Libraries’ Impact Library Program and the Reading Buddies will be distributed through Easterseals. In addition to the donation, The Cigna Group’s Wellness in Motion vehicle was onsite during the volunteer activity and provided biometric screenings for employees before and after the event.
The Cigna Group has a rich history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and has been focused on youth mental health programming that fosters social-emotional skills and well-being. The Cigna Group recently announced a multiyear philanthropic and community engagement initiative that has allocated more than $27 million in grants to nonprofit organizations focusing on youth mental health, veteran mental health through housing stability, and reducing barriers to health equity over the next three years.
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 183 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.
Media Contact
Jocelyn Parker
(313) 510-4173
Jocelyn.Parker@CignaHealthcare.com