Sanofi Pasteur Workforce "Adopts" Record Number of Area Head Start Families for the Holiday Season
East Stroudsburg, PA, December 20, 2013 – Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today that its employees and contractors collected and hand-delivered a record number of gifts, non-perishable food items, and supermarket gift cards to Pocono Services for Families and Children (PSFC). These contributions will benefit the non-profit organization’s neediest families.
The essential items donated today through the Sanofi Pasteur employees and contractors’ 19th annual “Adopt-a-Family” drive will benefit 158 people within 35 families who receive assistance from Monroe County Head Start. This is the largest number of families helped through this holiday drive since its inception.
The drive complements other recent company and employee efforts strengthening PSFC and the local community. Earlier this year, when the organization’s East Stroudsburg facility suffered severe damage due to a water pipe break, Sanofi Pasteur contributed funding toward the facility’s restoration and renovation, in addition to investments designed to provide technology and handicapped accessibility site enhancements.
“It’s clear the people of Sanofi Pasteur have a caring heart for their community, and our families,” said Tim Lee, executive director, Pocono Services for Families and Children. “Sanofi Pasteur not only provided a major corporate contribution to our renovation project, but also recently approved a donation that will offer emergency food and heating assistance for our clients. Meanwhile, Sanofi Pasteur’s workforce has collected more gifts than ever before, once again helping to ensure happier holidays for local, struggling families.”
“Sanofi Pasteur, its employees, and contractors have historically taken a leadership role helping and empowering Monroe County children and families in need,” said Ellyn Schindler, director, Home State Public Affairs – Pennsylvania. “Through company -- and workforce donations such as the annual Head Start drive -- we continue to work together and lend support to some of the most critical social service needs of our area.”
At Thanksgiving time, Sanofi Pasteur employees also collected and hand-delivered more than 200 pairs of winter boots, hats, gloves, and handcrafted blankets to Monroe County Head Start families. The blankets, which the children use during naptime, were assembled through team-building activities as part of Sanofi’s Season of Solidarity program.
Employees also raised more than $290,000 through its annual United Way campaign – in part through a 50 cent-on-the-dollar match the company donated for the signature company fundraising program.
About Head Start
Head Start is a child development program that has served low-income children and their families since 1965. The Head Start program is administered by the Head Start Bureau; the Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Administration for Children and Families; and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those interested in providing a donation to help local families and children in need can contact PSFC Center Director Jackie Lapping at 570-421-2711 x230.
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
Contacts:
Sanofi Pasteur
Ellyn Schindler
Director, Home State Public Affairs – Pennsylvania
Tel: 1-570-957-2689
Ellyn.Schindler@sanofipasteur.com
http://community.sanofipasteur.us
