Community Fundraiser Helps Ensure “Our Kids Come First”

Fifth Annual VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur Lackawanna County Community Fundraiser Helps Ensure “Our Kids Come First”

(3BL Media) Scranton, PA - September 21, 2012 -  Building upon the continued success of a strong community and corporate undertaking, VaxServe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi Pasteur located in downtown Scranton, and Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, held the fifth annual Lackawanna County Community Fundraiser. At the event, a record-breaking $88,701 was distributed to benefit two critical community organizations serving children and families.

Since its inception in 2008, VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur have covered all event costs for each of the five fundraisers. As such, 100 percent of ticket sales and sponsorships directly benefited the non-profit recipients. Including tonight’s total, the event has raised almost $320,000, demonstrating VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur’s commitment to community and local corporate social responsibility. Non-profit recipients for 2012 are the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania and The Employment Opportunity and Training Center (EOTC).

Serving as emcee for the event, Frank Epifano, vice president, North America and Global Finance, Commercial Operations, Sanofi Pasteur, noted, “I have seen firsthand how the funds from this event play an important role in helping these organizations meet the ever-increasing needs of community families. As a representative of Sanofi Pasteur, and as a native of Lackawanna County, I am gratified that our community joins together every year to help promote self-sufficiency for some of our area’s neediest families.”

U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr., served as honorary co-chair of the event with his mother Ellen Casey, former first lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fundraiser, titled, “Our Kids Come First,” underscores the fundraiser’s focus on helping community children in need. In a video presentation shown prior to dinner, Mrs. Casey thanked VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur, along with the approximately 250 community leaders attending for their support of such a worthwhile cause.

“We are extremely pleased to assist in championing education and family stability by bringing the many successes of EOTC’s Play and Learn Group and the Boys and Girls Clubs’ after-school and summer camp programs to the attention of other community members,” said Albert Thomas, general manager of VaxServe. “These organizations are making exceptional strides in building a strong, promising foundation for the future of our community’s children.”

Other corporate sponsors for the event included The Weinberg Foundation, Premier Sponsor; Fafi and Thomas Karam, Platinum Sponsor; Lavelle Strategy Group, Gold Sponsor; Art Print, ComServe and the New York Yankees, Silver Sponsors; and The Arohnson Fund, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, First National Community Bank, L.R. Costanzo Company, Mohegan Sun, Mount Airy Casino and PNC Bank, all Bronze Sponsors. Media sponsors included WBRE-TV, WYOU-TV and WOLF/Fox TV, The Scranton Times-Tribune, The Times Leader, Weekender, Abington Journal and Sunday Dispatch.

“Financial support from the Lackawanna County Community Fundraiser has helped EOTC furnish classroom space, purchase curriculum materials, and hire child development specialists. So every Thursday morning, children and their parents from Lackawanna County’s neediest families participate in activities that incorporate arts, science, music, nutrition and physical education. We are extremely thankful to VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur for their ongoing commitment,” Sharon McCrone, Ph.D., executive director at EOTC, said.

“The incredible generosity of our community, VaxServe and Sanofi Pasteur has made an enormous difference in the number of children we have been able to serve in our after school and summer day camp programs,” said Tricia DiBiasi Thomas, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA. “When these children come in the door, they are served a hot meal, offered help with homework and provided with a variety of activities. Because of the Community Fundraiser, we have not had to cut programs or turn a child away.”

The Lackawanna County Community Fundraiser is an important part of Sanofi Pasteur’s Community Relations initiatives, and complements the company’s annual Pocono Mountains Community Fundraiser. During the past nine years the company-driven event has raised more than $1.25 million for non-profit organizations serving Monroe County.

The Lackawanna Community Fundraiser, held at the Scranton Cultural Center, featured a delightful dinner of “comfort food with a twist,” provided by Epicurean Delight, and dancing to the sounds of The Exact Change.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

About VaxServe

VaxServe, a Sanofi Pasteur company, is a national healthcare supplier serving primary care physician offices, community immunization providers, immunizing pharmacies, travel clinics and corporations. Since 2000, VaxServe has offered customers professional service while providing a reliable supply of vaccines, injectables and medical/surgical products at competitive prices. For more information, please visit www.vaxserve.com.