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1 4 6 H a r t f o r d Aetna Aetna is one of the World's Most Admired Companies, according to Fortune Magazine. A etna is one of the World's Most Admired Companies, according to Fortune Magazine. The annual rankings to earn the title of Most Admired are based on multiple criteria, such as quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment value and social responsibility to the community and the environ- ment. Aetna has received countless awards that together paint a vibrant picture of its leadership in corporate America, including recognition for its busi- ness processes, technology innovations, sustainability initiatives and diversity programs. Founded in 1853, Aetna is one of the nation's lead- ing providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, and disability insurance, and employee benefits. Aetna's expertise lies also in helping the internation- al community address the challenge of access to affordable health care. The company's mission is to help people achieve health and financial security by providing easy access to safe, cost-effective, high- quality health care and protecting clients' finances against health-related risks. A Fortune 100 company, Aetna's annual revenues topped $34 billion in 2010, with 18.3 million medical members, 13.8 million den- tal members and 8.8 million pharmacy members. Aetna has been guided by visionary leaders who understand that businesses benefit by taking a strong interest in the state of society as a whole. In 1959, then-chairman Henry S. Beers declared corporate social responsibility a key business objective for Aetna. The following year he made his case to the rest of corporate America in a still-famous speech to the A merican Management A ssociation titled, "Responsibility of Business to Society." Beer's succes- sor, Olcott D. Smith, further strengthened the com- pany's commitment, creating Aetna's Corporate Social Responsibility Department in 1971. Today Aetna's corporate responsibility initiatives focus on five areas: community involvement, diversity, public policy leadership, environmental practices and cor- porate governance. Community involvement and volunteerism have been hallmarks of Aetna's culture for 80 years. In 1931 the company launched its first employee United Way/Combined Health Charities Appeal to support the needs of the Hartford community. In 1972, Chairman John H. Filer, who many consider to be the father of corporate philanthropy, created the Aetna Foundation. "Few aspects of American society are more characteristically, more famously American than the nation's array of voluntary organizations, and the support in both time and money that is given to them by its citizens," said Filer. He strongly believed that corporations have an obligation to their commu- nities, and believed both giving and volunteering to be vital to building and maintaining healthy commu- nities. Throughout its history, the Aetna Foundation has strengthened disease prevention programs; revi- talized neighborhoods; supported the arts, education and people in need; and championed diversity. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contrib- Below: 2011 Hole in the Wall Camp Challenge Ride Aetna.