Pledge 1% Boston, spearheaded by the Boston Foundation and a network of community leaders, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Life Science Cares. Since launching two months ago, Pledge 1% Boston has recruited almost 20 companies to pledge 1% for their communities. We are excited to parlay this initial success into an alliance with the life sciences community, one of Greater Boston’s most influential sectors. This kind of industry-specific partnership is a new approach for Pledge 1%, and we are excited to be blazing the trail in this region.
The life sciences sector in here is far-reaching and substantial. According to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, all of the world’s top 10 biopharmaceutical firms maintain facilities in the state. More than 500 other biopharma companies and 400 medical device makers also call Massachusetts home. With this burgeoning and growing economy in our region, we have an opportunity and obligation to connect leaders with the practice of giving back from an early stage.
Life Science Cares is an emerging nonprofit that engages leaders and companies in the space with giving back. The mission of Life Science Cares , is to “put the true good that life sciences companies represent into action—not just for human health, but for human potential.” In just the last year, Life Science Cares has recruited more than 70 leaders and companies to unite their human and financial resources to end poverty in greater Boston. The organization has attracted leaders from across the industry to its Board of Advisors, including Alnylam Pharmaceuticals CEO John Maraganore, Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Jeffrey Leiden, Mass Bio CEO Bob Coughlin, Ovascience founder and chairwoman Michelle Dipp, and Mass Life Sciences CEO Travis McReady. Other notable Greater Boston community leaders on Life Science Care’s Board of Advisors include Deval Patrick and Greg Shell from Bain Capital,, former Millennium and Forum Pharmaceuticals CEO Deborah Dunsire and former Cubist Pharmaceuticals CEO Mike Bonney. Initial nonprofit grant partners include Citizen Schools, Bottom Line, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.
“Pledge 1% Boston is an important initiative for this community, and the broader Greater Boston region", said Rob Perez, Founder and Chairman of Life Science Cares. "Engaging founders and companies to set aside 1% of equity or other resources for giving back to communities from an early stage is a terrific way to provide meaningful resources for the future of Greater Boston. We are excited to partner with Pledge 1% Boston and the Boston Foundation to embed giving back into the DNA of life sciences companies."
We will be formally announcing this partnership in early December at a reception for the life sciences community hosted by the Boston Foundation.
Originally posted: November 29, 2016
