Tech Citizenship
2008
Life sciences companies are well suited to giving
Focus on people and care makes charity an easy step
The core mission of biotechnology companies is to better the health of society, which puts them alongside the nonprofit world when it comes to social and medical causes. Because their work force includes doctors, veterinarians, researchers, and other health-care professionals, life sciences firms are uniquely positioned to be a special kind of corporate citizen.
“The typical life sciences company model for community investment combines funding with volunteerism, and is built on partnering with community organizations,” noted Judy Ozbun, vice president of strategic partnerships at the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI), based in Cambridge. Ozbun is also the former head of Cambridge-based Genzyme Corp.’s corporate community relations program and current chair of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation’s (MassBioEd) board of directors.
As examples of these partnerships, Ozbun cited the work MassBioEd has been doing with Rockland-based EMD Serono Inc. and Genzyme, which send their scientists to work with teachers and students in the local school systems. Other biotech firms, such as Dyax Corp. and Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. invest “both financial and human capital working with the Greater Boston Food Bank and other basic human service providers,” explained Ozbun.
Among the most noteworthy of the philanthropic New England life sciences companies is Genzyme, which supports a wide variety of programs. Like other companies, it gives both funds and manpower to the community, especially organizations that support scientific education, noted Caren Arnstein, senior vice president, corporate affairs and communications at Genzyme. The company acts both locally and globally. On one hand, it funds causes such as Head Start in Framingham, where Genzyme has a manufacturing facility. However, it also has a worldwide outreach through its Humanitarian Assistance for Neglected Diseases (HAND) program.
One local recipient of Genzyme’s human know-how is the Women’s Lunch Place, a Boston-based shelter for homeless women. “The best part of our relationship with Genzyme is the opportunity to work with their staff,” said Sharon Reilly, the executive director of the facility, in an e-mail. She said Genzyme employees built and support the shelter’s so-called “advocacy database.” The database helps shelter staff to measure the impact of services provided. “We cannot put a price on this level of support,” she said.
Other regional biotech firms offer staff to deliver direct help to local causes.
EMD Serono sets aside days for employees to volunteer on company time to support various local institutions, including schools, the Franklin Park Zoo, and the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter. Also focusing on local causes, Natick-based Boston Scientific Corp. provides grants to help individuals better manage their chronic illnesses, such as hypertension and childhood obesity.
In the same spirit, employees at Providence, R.I. -based EpiVax Inc. donate their time and health expertise for direct care to patients. Its CEO, Anne De Groot, a physician, even gives several hours a week to the Clinica Esperanza Hope Clinic in Providence so residents without insurance can get access to health care.
One advantage to biotech citizens is they are capable of grand ideas to start with, noted De Groot. In the future, biotechnology philanthropists need to think big for their community investments. “We are in the business of visions and dreams,” she said. “If you can dream it you can do it.”
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