ORLANDO - June 15, 2015 – More than 1,200 Astellas Pharma employees worked together during a corporate meeting to help A Veterans Community, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide safe, stable housing to homeless veterans and their families. A staggering 17 percent of the homeless population in the U.S. are veterans. Research shows that the greatest risk factors for homelessness are lack of support and social isolation after discharge. Astellas employees assembled 1,800 care packages for homeless veterans, which will support the organization for the rest of the year.  

Kyle Evans, Iraq War veteran and founder of A Veterans Community, spoke during the event, “A Veterans Community is extremely honored to have partnered with Astellas and their employees. As the recipient of these life essential items to support the fight in ending homelessness among our veterans in Central Florida, we are beyond grateful.”

Astellas recently launched a series of Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to support the diverse interests of its employees and their family members. Luke Freshwater, U.S. Army veteran, member of the Military ERG and professional sales representative at Astellas, said, “I have seen first-hand the struggles so many veterans face after their discharge from the military, and this volunteer activity will mean so much to them. Astellas continually goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist our veterans.”

In addition, employees at this event along with a match from Astellas contributed $25,000 to the American Red Cross to support its vaccine program. Astellas employees in the Americas have donated $1 million to charitable organizations through the Company's StarGIVING program over the last 10 years.

This year, Astellas employees commemorate the Company’s 10th anniversary by pledging to contribute 10,000 volunteer hours between May 2015 and March 2016. In the U.S., employees are taking part in various volunteer activities, including restoring a park, supporting food banks and preparing meals for families of children in pediatric hospitals. In Canada, Astellas employees renovated a summer camp near its Toronto headquarters for pediatric cancer patients. Astellas employees in Brazil will engage in volunteer initiatives focused on patient care in Sao Paulo and its surrounding communities.

About Astellas

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AstellasUS or like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS.