Cigna Foundation Grants $25,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Dental Clinic

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cigna Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix (BGCMP) Dental Clinic to help provide comprehensive dental services to low income, uninsured children ages five to 18. In addition, the Cigna Foundation will donate one dollar to support the BGCMP Dental Clinic every time visitors click to commit on Cigna's Facebook page during February, up to $5,000.

“Cigna and the Cigna Foundation have an ongoing commitment to improving children’s dental health. We’re excited to join with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix to help the young people they serve enjoy better personal health by achieving better oral health”

“With the support of community partners like the Cigna Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix can provide thousands of dental procedures for kids in need and dental education that can impact whole families. Together, we’re creating a future worth smiling about,” said Amy Gibbons, president and executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix.

The Cigna Foundation grant is part of Cigna's month-long celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Parents and children can find informative and fun dental health learning tools on cigna.com and Cigna's Facebook page. A podcast with Dr. Cary Sun, regional dental director for Cigna, explains the stages of a child’s teeth and what parents and caregivers need to know about their care.

The Cigna Foundation grant, which will assist the dental clinic in offering a full range of dental services to underserved children and young adults in Phoenix, demonstrates Cigna's commitment to giving everyone the tools they need to achieve healthier lives. “Cigna and the Cigna Foundation have an ongoing commitment to improving children’s dental health. We’re excited to join with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix to help the young people they serve enjoy better personal health by achieving better oral health,” said Gianna Jackson, executive director of the Cigna Foundation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems that can interfere with eating, speaking, playing and learning.

“It’s very important for parents to set the standard for their children’s oral health. Taking proper care of baby teeth can protect a child’s smile for a lifetime,” said Miles Hall, DDS, director for dental at Cigna.

Cigna's Mobile Learning Lab, an 18-wheeler interactive health awareness lab, is visiting different elementary schools in Texas during a week long dental education tour. Students will learn about the importance of keeping their one-of-a-kind smile healthy.

About BGCMP

The BGCMP Dental Clinic was created to provide low cost dental care to economically disadvantaged children. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix enables all young people to reach their full potential and services thousands of boys and girls annually. To learn more, please visit www.bgcmp.org

About the Cigna Foundation

The Cigna Foundation 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 approximately 75 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com