Genzyme Corp (GENZ)

genzyme.com

Contact:

Judy Ozbun

Foundation program:

Genzyme Charitable Foundation Inc.
 % of giving is through foundation

Signature program:

Gaucher Initiative, G.I.V.E. (Genzyme Invests in Volunteer Efforts)
1. The Gaucher Initiative is a Genzyme sponsored program that provides patients in the developing world with Cerezyme, a treatment for Gaucher disease, regardless of their ability to pay.

2. G.I.V.E., a global employee-directed volunteer funding program similar to Dollars-for-Doers, recognizes employee generosity and teamwork worldwide, supports team efforts in volunteerism and fundraising for charitable organizations that address the issues most important to our employees, and creates long-term, sustainable connections to those charitable organizations where our employees are engaged.

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Genzyme is committed to being a good corporate citizen in communities around the globe where we have a business presence. In 2004, we donated $46.2 million in-kind contributions globally, and $5 million in cash contributions in the U.S.

Genzyme believes that combining in-kind contributions, cash grants, and employee involvement results in sustainable partnerships that have a lasting positive impact on our patients and communities.

We are driven, first and always, by our commitment to patients and to providing access to needed medicine. Across our products, approximately 8 percent of patients with rare genetic diseases receive free drugs from Genzyme. That amounts to nearly 500 people who receive our drugs free of charge out of the total 6,000 patients on therapy.

Genzyme seeks to build relationships with local public schools, nonprofit agencies and grassroots organizations throughout our communities. We collaborate with diverse organizations throughout the world to develop and support outstanding science education and health-related programs. Additionally, we contribute to other programs that offer multi-community benefits or that have impact on a broader geographic scale.

As a company with a 24-year history of manufacturing therapies for patients with rare genetic diseases, Genzyme has attracted a group of employees who are socially active and focused on helping other people. Therefore, our employee involvement takes many forms. Teams of employees around the world select, lead and coordinate volunteer activities with nonprofit organizations. Through an employee-directed volunteer funding program, G.I.V.E. (Genzyme Invests in Volunteer Efforts), Genzyme encourages and supports employees who form a team to volunteer time, talent and/or raise funds on behalf of important causes of their choice in their communities.

First established in Massachusetts in 2000, the program has grown throughout the U.S. and is now expanding to Genzyme sites around the globe. Grants between $1,000 and $10,000 are provided to the nonprofit organization where our employees are engaged. Genzyme measures this contribution based on number of employee volunteers, hours volunteered, and funds raised. Examples of employee-initiated fundraising include support of local food banks, environmental cleanups of local rivers, tsunami relief and building housing for low-income families.