Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have announced that they awarded grants totaling $15.6 million to 661 nonprofit organizations in 2010.

Grants were awarded to nonprofits across the country working to address various healthcare issues, including racial and ethnic equity, obesity among adults and children, and the insufficient integration and coordination of health services. The company and its foundation also supported the arts, human services, education, and faith-based initiatives.

In addition, Aetna employees, retirees, and directors donated $6.9 million in 2010 through the company's matching gift program, bringing the total amount awarded by the foundation, Aetna, and its employees to $22.5 million. Employees of the health insurance provider also logged nearly 335,000 volunteer hours in their communities.

"During 2010, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation were pleased to provide grants to 661 nonprofit organizations and to match the generosity of our employees to another 9,492 organizations within our communities," said Aetna Foundation president Anne Beal. "We also made significant progress toward our goals of concentrating our grants on specific health issues of national concern, giving nearly $2.35 million to the fight against obesity, $1.24 million to improve racial and ethnic equity in health and health care, and more than $1 million to support better integrated health care in America."