Aetna Presents Grant Check to South Florida Student-Led Non-Profit

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. - Aetna Better Health of Florida CEO Jennifer Sweet presented a $3,000 grant check to Virtutem Populo, Inc. (VP) Executive Director Mauritis Acosta on Tuesday in support of his Florida Student School Board Member Initiative that advocates for student representation in education and policy-making in school districts across the state.

"We do support a number of initiatives in various neighborhoods all across Florida. It was last year at the children's forum that we met Maurits and learned about Virtutem Populo," Sweet told The Flordian. "The fact he started this organization, gave it legs, and turned it into an ongoing sustainable is really so impressive for a high school young man.  Now of course it's off to college and it's going to remain even after he moves on to the next chapter of his life."

Jennifer Sweet was joined by members of Aetna in granting the check to Mauritis Acosta and other students of Virtutem Populo, Inc., a South Florida nonprofit organization, at the Town of Miami Lakes Government Center.

The Florida Student School Board Member Initiative (FL SSBMI) works with other state public school districts and students to identify, nominate, and elect a non-voting student school board member to participate in School Board meetings. The nominee would also provide feedback and clarity on the student experience and perspective as it pertains to choices that impact day-to-day student life.

"We believe that students deserve a seat at the table where decisions about their education are made. The Florida Student School Board Member Initiative is about ensuring that student voices are not just heard but valued in the policymaking process. We are incredibly grateful to Aetna Better Health of Florida for recognizing the importance of youth civic engagement and supporting our mission to empower students across the state," Mauritis Acosta said in a press release.

Aetna is an American-based healthcare company that sells healthcare insurance, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care, and disability plans through employer-paid full or partial insurance and benefit programs.

Founded in 1853, the company has an estimated 39 million members. Headquartered in Hartford, Conn., Aetna has been a subsidiary of CVS since 2018.

"We support adolescent well-being throughout Florida. As a Medicaid care plan, we are managing healthcare benefits for them, but so much of some of this well-being and health comes from the communities that they live in. CVS has invested in affordable housing. Aetna has invested in many food programs and the Better Health of Florida continues to invest in young people like Mauritis and pushing it forward for adolescents everywhere," Sweet added.