Astellas is committed to partnering with national and local non-profit organizations to help improve access to healthcare for underserved groups in the United States. In Fiscal Year 2020, the company awarded 10 grants totalling $410,000 to nine non-profit organizations working on the ground to address both healthcare inequities as well as combatting isolation and other negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Astellas is supporting the following groups that are providing programming intended to increase healthcare literacy, provide virtual and in-person opportunities to connect with other patients, and more. Collectively, these programs are anticipated to impact nearly 340,000 lives.

Camp Kesem National In 2020 and now in 2021, Kesem has supported children nationwide through a parent’s cancer through a new virtual camp program, Kesem at Home, providing them with connection, fun, hope, and healing during these times of isolation.

Cancer101:

• Through "Project Hisparity," CANCER101 will build upon its keystone initiative, the CANCER101 Planner, where CANCER101 will co-design a culturally appropriate Spanish version of the cancer planner with Hispanic patients and their care partners.
• Also, the goal of “Democratizing Health and Addressing Inequities in Cancer Care within the LGBTQ+ Community," is to harness the real-world experiences of the LGBTQ+ community to understand the barriers and inequities in care they experience. CANCER101 will use these insights to co-design educational interventions that target gaps identified with the LGBTQ+ community.

Cancer Wellness Center’s "Men’s Health Education and Support Series” provides men facing cancer with a safe place to share, learn and discuss their needs and interests through supportive services, lectures and workshops, and wellness classes.

National Association for Continence’s “Supporting Patient Urological Care During the Pandemic” program supports patients’ access to virtual consultation with their primary care physician.

National Women’s Health Resource Center’s “Raising Awareness and Advancing Education about Urothelial Cancers for the Improvement of Access, Information and Care” is designed to provide online tools and resources for women.

Patient Empowerment Network’s “TelemEDucation Prostate Cancer Resource Center” program provides an online educational resource for men facing prostate cancer and their caregivers.

Stupid Cancer’s Webinar and Digital Meetup programs empower all adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer by ending isolation and building community.

Us Too International, Inc.’s “Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Initiative” will provide patients with mentoring, education, individual and group support and promote early detection and cancer screening. 

Urology Care Foundation Inc. is developing and will distribute patient education materials through multiple modalities on Women’s Urologic Health, to provide education, and help facilitate communication between patients and physicians, geared towards the Black community.

This financial support builds on our long-standing strategy to support local non-profit organizations as part of our broader commitment to being a sustainable contributor to our communities. Through this effort we helping to advance Goal 3 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Astellas annually issues a request for proposal to national and local U.S.-based charitable organizations to apply for corporate donations that target underserved patients. In the last five years, Astellas has donated nearly $2.5 million to support philanthropic programs that purposefully provide access to healthcare for underserved, diverse populations.