Cigna Foundation Awards TCA Health $162,250 World of Difference Grant to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Underserved Chicago Seniors

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Cigna Foundation has awarded a $162,250 World
of Difference Grant to TCA
Health to help fund an expansion of the organization’s Senior Fit
Club. The expansion will give more than 300 medically underserved
seniors in Chicago’s south side communities and suburbs access to
important health and wellness services, including health screenings and
workshops and classes focused on fitness, healthy eating and community
gardening.

Because TCA Health is a community health center, the focus of the Senior
Fit Club is on preventive health, healthy aging and healthy living. As
the population ages, it’s important seniors practice a healthy
lifestyle. By doing so, health issues can be addressed early on and
future medical problems can be prevented.

“Currently, TCA’s health and wellness programs provide services to
hundreds of families each month through our food pantry initiative,
community youth gardens and family-oriented exercise programs. We are
proud to be a recipient of Cigna’s support. The World of Difference
grant will greatly expand our capacity to provide seniors with health
and wellness services that improve quality of life, promote social
interaction and offer opportunities for employment and financial
independence,” said Veronica Clarke, president and CEO of TCA Health.

Local resident Leatha James, who suffers from a medical condition that
requires diet regulation and frequent exercise, has seen an improvement
in her health as a result of the Senior Fit Club. Every week, she
travels to TCA to attend fitness and nutrition classes. “Since taking
the classes I feel physically stronger, have more stamina and have not
experienced any health issues,” said James.

“For 17 years I have worked with TCA to improve the physical, mental and
emotional health of children and families,” said Dr. Peter McCauley Sr.,
M.D., regional medical executive for Cigna’s Northeast region, which
includes Chicago, and volunteer physician with TCA Health. “Seniors hold
a central role in many families and TCA’s programs give them the
stability they need to lead healthier lives. I’m excited to see the
great work that will be accomplished through the grant.”

A portion of the grant will go toward the Senior Fit Club’s Harvest
Project, which arranges for seniors to work with children and teens to
build and sustain community gardens. According to American Seniors
Communities, gardening increases mobility, strength and endurance among
seniors. To celebrate the World of Difference grant and kick off a new
year of the Senior Fit Club, students from Chicago International Charter
School Lloyd Bond will help seniors from Mercy Housing in Roseland plant
vegetables in a new community garden. The gardening will take place
during a special event today at 11 a.m. CST. This is the first of five
gardens the Senior Fit Club will plant in the Chicago area this year.

“We believe in addressing health holistically – especially throughout
the aging process,” said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the
Cigna Foundation. “We’re pleased to award TCA this grant so that more
seniors can have access to the resources they need to stay healthy
during this next phase of life.”

About TCA Health, Inc.

Established in 1970 as a privately owned clinic, TCA became a federally
qualified health center in 1991. Today the health center provides
continuous, comprehensive, high quality primary health care services and
serves as a medical home for nearly 7,000 patients annually. At TCA’s
main clinic (adjacent to the Altgeld- Murray Public Housing
Development), and its nearby school-based health center at Carver
Military Academy, community residents have physical and financial access
to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. Encompassing
prevention, early detection, treatment, and health education, TCA offers
family medicine, internal medicine, dental, pediatrics, obstetrics &
gynecology, mental health and alcohol/substance abuse treatment,
clinical social work services, case management, prevention services,
health education and outreach, employment services, nutritional
counseling, breast feeding counseling, and immunizations. TCA also
operates two freestanding Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) sites and is
founder and lead agency of the Health and Wellness Collaborative of
Chicago’s far south communities and suburbs, established in 2012. To
learn more about TCA Health visit www.tcahealth.org.

About the Cigna Foundation

The Cigna Foundation, founded in 1962, is a private foundation funded by
contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its subsidiaries.
The Cigna Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to
enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of
their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna
employees live and work.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company
dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense
of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or
through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life
Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna
Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include
an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental,
behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other
related products including group life, accident and disability
insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and
jurisdictions, and has more than 89 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

Contacts

Cigna
Katie Sulkowski, 615-772-3541
Katie.sulkowski@healthspring.com
or
TCA
Health
Mariann McGill, 773-995-6300
MMcGill@TCAHealth.org