Official Press Release: Wings for Kids Receives Grant from The Cigna Group Foundation

October 8, 2024 – Wings for Kids has been awarded a grant of $100,000 from The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group, to help address the youth mental health crisis.

The primary objectives of this program are to increase the number of educators and youth-serving professionals equipped to support children with positive mental health development. Through high-quality social emotional skills training, educators and youth-serving professionals can significantly enhance the positive social, emotional, and mental health development of thousands of children across Georgia. 

“A significant portion of our children living in poverty suffer from adverse childhood experiences. Add to this the pandemic and we’ve got a national crisis on our hands. For 27 years, Wings for Kids has been developing skills in youth to grow the protective factors that help them navigate life’s challenges. Today, thanks to the generous grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, we will be able to equip 1,000+ adults with our evidence-based social emotional learning strategies and training model to address youth mental health,” said CEO Julia Rugg, of Wings for Kids. “We are grateful to have The Cigna Group Foundation’s support in Wings for Kids’ mission to equip kids with the skills needed to succeed in school, stay in school, and thrive in life.”

“To effectively intervene in the youth mental health crisis, we need strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations committed to improving the health and vitality of young people,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair, The Cigna Group Foundation. “Communities are only just beginning to grapple with the impact of the youth mental health crisis post-pandemic. We are privileged to partner with Wings for Kids to enable their important work to improve the mental health of youth in the communities we both serve.”

According to a recent analysis by The Cigna Group’s Evernorth Research Institute, the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period. More than one in four parents report having a child with mental health challenges, diagnosed or undiagnosed, and many report challenges to obtaining behavioral health care for their child, including access barriers.

The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and recently announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative that has committed more than $27 million in grants over the next three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, veteran mental health, and reducing barriers to health equity.

More information on The Cigna Group Foundation’s youth mental health grant program can be found here. Additional information about Wings for Kids programs can be found here.

About Wings for Kids

Wings for Kids (WINGS) is a nonprofit organization that equips students, educators, and youth-serving organizations with skills to thrive - in and out of school. WINGS does this through a common language (Words to Live By), a comprehensive curriculum rooted in evidence-based social emotional learning (like learning from effort, problem-solving, building healthy relationships, compassion and empathy) and more than 27 years of experience. Since its inception in 1996, WINGS has reached over 4.8M students.

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 186 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.

About The Cigna Group Foundation

The Cigna Group Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group 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 employees of The Cigna Group live and work.

Media Contact
Liz Mester, Director of Communications and Engagement
843-906-3634
liz@wingsforkids.org