Feature Stories

Astellas Americas Demonstrates Community Commitment to Patients and Veterans in 2015

Apr 26, 2016

To commemorate Astellas’ 10th anniversary this past year, more than 2,000 Astellas Americas employees (72 percent of the regional employee base) contributed a total of 10,218 hours of volunteer service throughout the Americas – exceeding the goal by more than 200 hours —as part of the company’s annual global service initiative, Changing Tomorrow Day. The volunteer work benefitted a variety of community members including 6,650 patients and their family members and 2,669 veterans. Employees also contributed another 4,000 hours of their time to local nonprofits by taking advantage of the Astellas Volunteer Time Off program, which provides employees up to five paid days a year to volunteer at a qualified nonprofit of their choice.

Supporting our local communities in the areas where we live and work is a core tenet of Astellas’ larger mission to bringing sustainable value to patients. Changing Tomorrow Day provides Astellas employees globally the opportunity to step away from their office and volunteer with colleagues. In 2015, Americas employees in Brazil, the United States and Canada provided assistance to 35 organizations that supported patients, veterans, hungry families and community members. These partnerships allowed Astellas to activate employees in meaningful ways through 121 volunteer events between June 2015 and March 2016.

Around 6,650 patients and their family members benefitted from these activities that included:

  • Preparation of  4,000 meals for patients and their families staying at 81  Ronald McDonald Houses across the United States
  • A cleanup of the grounds and facilities at Camp Trillium in Toronto, Canada for pediatric patients
  • Painting, window washing and landscaping at the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois. Astellas also donated resources to install a new sitting garden that will be used as a meditative space by patients and caregivers.
  • Assembling 50 blankets that were distributed to ten American Cancer Society Hope Lodges

“Inside and out, Astellas created a fresh, bright and welcoming environment.  It can be easy to start feeling alone living with cancer, but Astellas and Cancer Wellness Center came together to lift up participants and remind them that we stand strong and fight  alongside them so they can live the life they have to its fullest.” said Nancy Bulzoni, Director, Northbrook Cancer Wellness Center

Astellas also recognizes the important work of our military servicemen and the challenges they face daily recovering from war injuries and reintegrating into society. Partnering with a variety of veterans organizations, the work of Astellas employees impacted a total of 2,669 veterans through the following: 

  • Packaged 1,800 hygiene and toiletry kits for veterans seeking employment in Central Florida
  • Assembled 200 welcome baskets and 84 toiletry kits for veterans’ families staying at Fisher Houses
  •  Assembled 135 fleece blankets for homeless or active duty veterans
  • Created 450 veterans care packages for homeless, hospitalized or active duty veterans

Since 2009, Astellas has provided our employees engaging volunteer programs to amplify their giving and support the company’s commitment to serving our communities. Together, our employees have donated almost 75,000 hours of volunteer service.