This holiday season, approximately 270 employees from Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on innovation and specialty care, engaged in community building activities during the company’s 2nd annual, first virtual, Week of Service. Individuals, teams and family ‘bubbles’ in the United States and Canada donated their time, treasure and talents to ensure kids and families, many of whom are being hit the hardest during the pandemic, have what they need this holiday season.
In partnership with Life Science Cares, the company offered two ways to get involved. Employees could engage in a game of Volunteer Bingo and check-off activities, such as donating blood, food or clothing, helping a neighbor with yardwork, supporting a local business or making a financial contribution to local causes, to name a few. Employees also had the opportunity to assemble Hope Hero Kits, which contain coloring books, crayons, stencils, stickers and more, for the Happy Hope Foundation. Thanks to the Canadian offices that assembled 44 activity kits and the U.S. teams that completed 168 kits across 16 states, more than 200 children will receive gifts at hospitals in Ontario, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.
“Prior to the pandemic, we knew we wanted to do something bigger and more impactful this year in the communities in which our employees work and live,” says Kate Chase, Senior Manager of Internal Communication at Ipsen. “Our passion of inspiring hope extends outside our office walls though and into our own communities and local backyards.”
Since joining Life Science Cares as a member in 2018, Ipsen employees have engaged in gardening at CASPAR’s emergency shelter, sorting children’s clothes at Cradles to Crayons, and supporting court involved youth at More Than Words. Clearly, working remotely during the pandemic did not stop the global biopharmaceutical company from coming together to help those in need.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Life Science Cares,” says Chase. “The organization does a tremendous job connecting members of the life science industry with nonprofits and giving us many opportunities to make a difference for our employees to choose from to get involved.”
Ipsen is one of 50 member companies working with Life Science Cares to support nonprofits that improve the lives of people living in poverty in Greater Boston. Members access dozens of in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities throughout the year and can offer their expertise as pro bono consultants to nonprofits that often face challenges in areas of sustainability, growth and development.
Interested in learning more about Life Science Cares? Click here for ways in which your company can get involved.
Ipsen colleagues packaged Happy Hope Hero kits for children in the hospital across the U.S. and Canada during their Virtual Week of Service.