NORTHBROOK, IL, Sept. 14, 2015 — Astellas Pharma recently marked the company’s sixth annual Changing Tomorrow Day— a global volunteer service initiative — with employees lending their time to more than six community-based organizations around Chicagoland and Los Angeles. Volunteers also observed a moment of silence with local firefighters and first responders in memory of 9/11.

Between May 2015 and March 2016, Astellas is committed to achieving 10,000 volunteer hours across the Americas as part of a new initiative to multiply the impact of Changing Tomorrow Day by the “the power of 10,” in honor of the company’s 10th anniversary. So far this year, employees have completed more than 5,400 hours of volunteer service across the region.

“The passion and enthusiasm of employees who have participated in Changing Tomorrow Day this year is a reflection of Astellas’ commitment to transforming lives around the world,” said Jeff Winton, SVP, Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Astellas. “Through our employees unwavering dedication to volunteerism, Astellas is helping create healthier communities and making a difference for those in need.”

In Chicagoland, employees from Astellas’ Americas headquarters helped renovate a Cancer Wellness Center, packed food at two food banks and assembled blankets for wounded veterans. Employees from Astellas’ research affiliate in Santa Monica –Agensys– helped clean the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles, in addition to serving lunch and making crafts with residents, while others assembled toiletry bags for veterans’ families staying at The Fisher House.

“The volunteer work of the Astellas team both inside and outside our facility will have an enormous impact in creating a more welcoming environment,” said Nancy Bulzoni, executive director of the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois. “Our plans to use the space for outdoor mediation to help improve the well-being of participants are already underway.”

Later this month, Astellas volunteers will help beautify a Lake County forest preserve outside of Chicago. Astellas employees in Sao Paulo, Brazil will support various projects at Projeto Arrastão, a nonprofit organization that supports families in need across the city’s neighborhoods.

As part of the Changing Tomorrow Day “power of 10” campaign, Astellas also recently awarded $100,000 each to the American Red Cross and Stop Hunger Now in support of their efforts to advance access to healthcare and expand community development around the world.

In addition to the annual global day of service, employees can volunteer up to five paid days a year at a qualified nonprofit of their choice through the Astellas Volunteer Time Off Program.

Watch Astellas' Changing Tomorrow Day 2015 highlights video.

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS.

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