Event honored life science companies and individuals who exemplify LSC’s efforts to give back to community
Life Science Cares, a nonprofit collective effort of the life science industry to disrupt the cycle of poverty & inequality in the greater Boston area, today announced that it raised more than $400,000 in conjunction with its first ever Impact Reception and Awards celebration. The event brought together 400 leaders across the life sciences and healthcare industries to support Life Science Cares and to recognize individuals and companies making an impact in the community.
“Later this year, LSC Boston will make is $10 millionth dollar of investment in community-based organizations and programs driving that change. Those dollars will again be backed by the time & talent of volunteers ready to serve, to consult, to mentor and to hire,” said LSC President Sarah MacDonald. “It is important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that our work is truly made up of people—individuals who are coming with their hearts and their minds to our work. These individuals feel a spark, connect to a mission, experience a moment—people to people, people helping people. That is what the night is about—celebrating the sometimes big, often small, efforts of individuals or teams who show up for others.”
The event was support by presenting sponsor Collegium Pharmaceutical, gold sponsor Cooley LLP, silver sponsors Blueprint Medicines and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and bronze sponsors Agios, Beam Therapeutics, Cresa Boston, CRISPR Tx, Dyne Therapeutics, Kiniksa, Path AI, PwC, Sanofi, Stet Vision, SDP Oncology, Takeda, Trinity Life Sciences and WilmerHale.
Other sponsors included Alexion, Aura Biosciences, Biogen, The Bowdoin Group, C4 Therapeutics, Corval, DivcoWest, Eversana, Generation Bio, Halloran Consulting Group, J&J Innovation, JP Morgan, Karyopharm, Mariana Oncology, Marsh & McLennan Agency, McDermott Will & Emery, Mintz, Omega Funds, RSM, Scholar Rock, Stoke Therapeutics, Synterex, The NemetzGroup, The Termeer Foundation, Vigil Neuro and Xilio Therapeutics.
The awards presented were:
The Luke Timmerman Impact Award
A problem as persistent as poverty is going to take creativity and innovation to solve. The Luke Timmerman Impact Award recognizes an individual or group who has found new, creative and impactful ways to build out the LSC model of harnessing industry resources to support community-based efforts to end poverty and inequity in Greater Boston. 
This award is named for unparalleled LSC advocate and evangelist Luke Timmerman, a biotech journalist, community connector and dedicated philanthropist. Luke is the brains and heart behind the Timmerman Traverse, an annual three-day hike through the White Mountains’ Presidential Range that has raised more than $1.5 million for Life Science Cares in its first two years.
Nominees:
- WINNER: Third Rock Ventures and TRV Partners Abbie Celniker & Reid Huber
- Jo Viney and Larry Wallach, Viney Wallach Foundation
- Xilio Therapeutics & CEO Rene Russo
Transformative Partnership Award
Recognizes corporate philanthropy and volunteer engagement programs that result from consistent and dynamic partnership with LSC and community organizations. These nominees have gone above and beyond to build a culture of giving back at the core of their organization.
Nominees:
- Collegium Pharmaceutical
- WINNER: Halloran
- Flagship Pioneering
- Kiniksa
Community Changemaker Award
Recognizes staff at LSC nonprofit partner organizations for their contributions in the community. Nominations will be solicited from leadership at LSC partner organizations.
Honorees:
- Nurit Adem, Supportive Housing Case Manager, Victory Programs
- Danielle Andrews, Boston Urban Farm Manager, The Food Project
Superstar Volunteer Award
Recognizes… Superstar Volunteers! These are the folks who inspire us– the people who don’t hesitate to share their time, talent, experiences and network to make a difference in the LSC ecosystem.
Nominees:
- WINNERS: Olesya & Stanly Jaganathan, Nimbus Therapeutics & Takeda
- Christy Kahana, Claria Partners
- Dr. Ann-Marie LaRonde Richard, Pfizer
Since its founding in 2017, Life Science Cares Boston has distributed nearly $8 million in grants to four dozen community-based nonprofit organizations in the greater Boston area. In addition, Life Science Cares Boston has already worked with 500+ Boston-area based companies, performing 20,000+ hours of community service.