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Friday, November 21, 2008
Tech Citizenship
Access to health care is EpiVax’s work, giving
By Mass High Tech Staff
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EpiVax Inc.’s charitable arm works to reach out to organizations that are involved with the life-saving work that is the business of the company.
“We are developing vaccines for preventing disease and treating disease in humans, and so most of our charitable work is related to improving people’s access to health care,” said founder and chief executive officer Anne De Groot. “We focus on people who don’t have access to health care and even more specifically, we promote access to health care for people with HIV.”
De Groot is the founder of the Global Alliance to Immunize Against AIDS Vaccine Foundation, based in Mali, West Africa, which according to the company built the first HIV/AIDS clinic in the country. De Groot said EpiVax is hoping to develop an HIV vaccine.
De Groot said a number of the company’s employees have traveled to the foundation in West Africa to offer volunteer support. Also, the employees offer charitable work, doing everything from lifting furniture in the new clinic to collecting donations to support it.
Last year, EpiVax contributed most if its charitable efforts to the Global Alliance to Immunize Against AIDS, National Public Radio, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Special Olympics of Rhode Island.
“Our charitable work is very squarely in the preventive arena and preventing illness and preventing human disease, and that is why we are focused on preventing illness and the HIV disease,” De Groot said.
Citizenship Facts
EpiVax Inc.
Total cash contributions in New England in 2007: $7,300
Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2007: 300
In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England in 2007: $26,200
Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2007: GAIA (Global Alliance to Immunize Against AIDS) Vaccine Foundation; National Public Radio; Special Olympics RI; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Interesting philanthropic activities: Annie De Groot, CEO of EpiVax, has spearheaded a number of volunteer efforts that relate to the company’s mission. She is founder of GAIA Vaccine Foundation, a nonprofit based in Mali, West Africa, that has built the first-ever HIV/AIDS clinic in the country. EpiVax employees contribute volunteer hours to various causes, including Special Olympics RI and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Rhode Island.
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