September 14, 2021
The AmerisourceBergen Foundation Hosts Global Nonprofit Conference
Conshohocken, Pa – Today, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization dedicated to supporting health-related causes, convened more than 50 nonprofit partners and peers at its third annual Grantee and Nonprofit Partner Conference to share best practices, facilitate collaboration, and foster long-term relationships that create sustained change. The virtual event focused on developing strategies to address urgent needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as longstanding issues, including health equity and global access to healthcare.
“Since its inception, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation has sought
opportunities to support organizations and campaigns that expand access to
healthcare for underserved populations around the world. That’s even more
important now as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated racial and socioeconomic
disparities in access to healthcare—widening the gap in health inequities,”
said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. “To affect real
action, we must stay connected to and work collaboratively with nonprofit peers
who share our commitment to create healthier futures. This annual conference serves
as an opportunity to identify how we can, collectively, work to help address
pressing issues that affect people in communities worldwide.”
During the conference, attendees from nonprofit
organizations participated in discussions geared toward enriching the health of
the global community. Leaders from nonprofit partners such as Partners in Health (PIH) joined AmerisourceBergen
executives in a series of fireside chats to discuss how the organizations, with
support from the Foundation, are leading efforts to help address some of the
most pressing health-related issues. For example, PIH continues to make
investments to strengthen the supply chain and bolster healthcare
infrastructure in Haiti and West Africa to enable reliable access to
pharmaceutical products and medical supplies. During the fireside chats,
participants also offered candid perspective on the changes brought by the
COVID-19 pandemic, how they adapted to meet urgent needs in the communities
they serve, and strategies for strengthening their community outreach and reducing
disparities in healthcare. Dr. Emilie Socash, the founder of the Nonprofit Help
Center, delivered the conference’s keynote on nonprofit and community
resilience.
Representatives from the American Cancer Society, Not One More Vet, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America led a panel
discussion focused on the many ways philanthropic organizations have responded
to the COVID-19 pandemic and key priorities moving forward, including
strategies to advance health equity. In April, the Foundation committed
$700,000—the largest single donation in its history—to Boys & Girls Club of
America to support COVID-19 vaccine education and awareness campaigns at 28
Clubs in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
“Throughout the last year and a half, local Boys & Girls
Clubs, as trusted community leaders, have led critical advocacy, awareness and
education efforts to remove barriers and increase access to COVID-19 vaccines,”
said Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “While
there is a tremendous amount of work still needed, we’ve been able to deliver
urgent impact in communities nationwide—from Los Angeles and Sacramento to Polk
County, Florida—thanks to the ongoing support and collaboration from partners
like the AmerisourceBergen Foundation.”
Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the
Foundation has committed more than $1.7 million to regional, national, and
global nonprofit organizations that have launched campaigns or initiatives to support
communities or individuals impacted by COVID-19. For more information about the
AmerisourceBergen Foundation, visit www.amerisourcebergenfoundation.org.
About the AmerisourceBergen Foundation
The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is an independent not-for-profit charitable
giving organization established by AmerisourceBergen Corporation to support
health-related causes that enrich that global community. The Foundation aims to
improve the health and well-being of its patient populations – both human and
animal – by investing in its communities. Through strategic partnerships and
community collaboration, the Foundation works to expand access to quality
healthcare and provide resources to ensure prescription drug safety. For more
information, visit www.amerisourcebergenfoundation.org.