Girl Scouts Receives $50K Grant from Aetna

Girl Scouts of Connecticut has received a generous $50,000 grant from Aetna, Inc. to enhance the Live Healthy, Lead Healthy signature initiative to reach over 13,000 girls. 

The Live Healthy, Lead Healthy signature initiative is a holistic approach to health that educates girls across the state about childhood obesity and the benefits of fitness, nutrition, and stress reduction. Through a variety of programs for ages 5-17, girls are provided with tools to make positive choices in their lives. This multi-faceted initiative enables girls to discover what healthy choices are, connect this information to the decisions they make, and take action to change their behavior and influence their lives and the people around them.

Funds will also be used to support the Kids on the Block program, life-sized puppets used to teach girls about bullying, living with disabilities, and other social issues. An earned recognition program focused on fitness, nutrition, and stress reduction for girls will be made available as a result of these funds. Girl Scouts of Connecticut will be able to improve and increase fitness supplies available at their nine day and three resident camps across the state.

 "This initiative is critically important for girls today," said Carol Keierleber, Interim CEO, Girl Scouts of Connecticut. "Girls are struggling with their self-image as early as elementary school. Our Live Healthy, Lead Healthy initiative is a comprehensive approach for girls, helping them realize that being healthy is not about fitting into a particular size, but about feeling good, inside and out. We are grateful to Aetna for their generous support of this important program."

For more information about Girl Scouts of Connecticut, visit www.gsofct.org.