To help people of all ages make more informed decisions about their health, grants are directed toward national health promotion and education initiatives. Emphasis is given to:
- Alzheimer's and Aging
- Parenting Skills Campaign
- Healthy Habits
- HIV/AIDS Awareness
- Substance Abuse Prevention
Alzheimer's and Aging
The first Baby Boomers will turn 65 in 2011, and by the year 2020, the over-65 population is expected to double. The graying of America presents significant social and economic challenges, including questions of financial security, access to elder care, the ability to remain independent and vital in later life, and caregiver stress. MetLife, with its long history of leadership in responding to health issues and providing information to help individuals of every age lead healthier lives, and MetLife Foundation have created a program that stresses the issues that face older adults.
MetLife Foundation focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, mental fitness, civic involvement and public awareness of age-related issues today.
View selected grants.
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Parenting Skills Campaign
Recognizing the importance of helping parents communicate with their children about drugs, the Foundation sponsors a national media campaign emphasizing the role of effective parenting in substance abuse prevention. In 2006, radio messages are being broadcast in markets across the country stressing that parents should talk to their kids about drugs and stay informed about new drug dangers. The messages offer a free booklet, Your Child Needs You!: A Guide to Help Your Child Lead a Healthy Drug-Free Life in English, Spanish and Chinese. (Copies of these publications are available by calling 1-800-729-6686.)
Developed in collaboration with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA), the campaign has been extended with an online, interactive version on the PDFA Web site. For more information on parenting skills, see Tips for Raising Drug-Free Teens in English and Spanish and How To Be A Better Parent in English or Spanish.
Healthy Habits
To address the growing epidemic of obesity and physical inactivity among young people, the Foundation is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Preventive Medicine Institute (PMI) to provide parents and educators with practical strategies for promoting fitness and healthy eating. CDC developed three guides designed to help parents and guardians (available in English, Spanish and Chinese), teachers, and principals increase physical activity among elementary and middle school-aged youth. PMI developed a nationwide media campaign comprised of healthy nutrition messages designed by young people for young people in urban areas.
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HIV/AIDS Awareness
Since 1987, MetLife and the Foundation have given over $9 million for HIV/AIDS awareness and education, including over $1.5 million to the National AIDS Fund to support prevention efforts primarily directed towards youth. The National AIDS Fund and the Foundation have jointly sponsored the Caring Counts Awards program since 1996 to recognize young people who exemplify volunteerism and community service because of their efforts in the fight against AIDS.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Since 1983, MetLife and the Foundation have provided more than $10 million in contributions, in-kind services and loans to support programs that emphasize substance abuse prevention and education, particularly for young people. The Foundation has given over $600,000 to the Phoenix House Foundation for Facts on Tap, a national alcohol and drug abuse prevention initiative directed at college students. Launched in 1998, Facts on Tap is designed to educate and inform students about alcohol and to combat binge drinking on college campuses. |
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