CIGNA is celebrating a recent graduating class—and what a unique group of graduates they are.

CIGNA’s disability insurance group is donating $25,000 to NEADS, a non-profit organization in Massachusetts that trains service dogs for deaf people and people with disabilities, including wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The donation celebrates the graduation of NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans.

In addition, through a new employee fundraising effort, CIGNA will raise additional money in support of NEADS’ Name-A-Puppy program. Through the “Someone NEADS Us” campaign, CIGNA employees will compete in a company-wide drawing for the honor of naming a puppy that will be trained as an assistance dog. CIGNA employees are working to raise at least $5,000, enough to sponsor “naming a puppy” for a minimum of five puppies. It costs about $20,000 to fully raise, train, and care for each puppy.

The CIGNA Foundation will also make an additional $5,000 contribution to the Name-A-Puppy program.

Chris Maddeford, an Army veteran who was injured in Afghanistan, can testify to the help a NEADS graduate can make.

“Since I got AJ in February through the NEADS Canines for Combat Veterans Program, my life has changed dramatically, and AJ is one of the best things to ever happen to me,” Maddeford said. “I’ve slept better than I have in years, and I feel more comfortable in everything that I do.”

AJ also helps the veterans at the local VA, where Maddeford is a Certified Peer Specialist.

“I run groups and one-to-one sessions, and AJ is there all the time,” Maddeford explained. “It’s amazing what he can do. He picks up any dropped articles that I cannot reach due to my back injuries, yet that’s only a part of the story. It’s life-changing what he does for me and the other guys in my group.”

In conjunction with its annual title sponsorship of the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race, the carrier partners with a community organization whose mission reflects its own. CIGNA has been an ongoing financial supporter of NEADS and will host the organization at the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race on August 9 in Falmouth, Mass., where puppies in training will be on site and visitors can learn more about NEADS.

“CIGNA and NEADS share a common goal to assist individuals with disabilities lead more independent lives at work and at home,” said Dr. Robert Anfield, chief medical officer for CIGNA’s disability business. “We are privileged to play a role in supporting the important work of this organization and to help make it possible for more people to benefit from the help of an assistance dog.”