DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation (the Foundation), an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization dedicated to supporting health-related causes, brought together more than 50 like-minded nonprofit partners to identify best practices, share resources and learn from one another at the inaugural AmerisourceBergen Foundation Conference. The two-day summit focused on developing strategies to address two of the most pressing challenges in health today: access to healthcare and prescription drug and opioid safety.
“In the face of today’s most complex issues, we believe the best way to achieve sustainable change is through long-term, strategic partnership. Communities benefit when businesses and nonprofits share skills and resources while working towards a common goal,” said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. “The AmerisourceBergen Foundation Conference was an opportunity for us to convene partners from across the human and animal health spectrum to ideate, inspire and, ultimately, build the deep engagement needed to affect action, develop innovative solutions and amplify our collective impact to create healthier futures.”
During the conference, attendees participated in a series of panels, networking activities, and skill-building workshops. Clark moderated a discussion on the power of community-based collaboration with leaders from Eluna, Family Reach and Southeastern Guide Dogs, during which panelists shared insights into their work, the challenges and opportunities available to nonprofits and how their organizations continue to collaborate to drive progress.
Attendees that are a part of the Foundation’s Opioid Resource Grant Program discussed ways to navigate the specific challenges of addressing opioid misuse and educating stakeholders on associated risks and resources. Additional collaboration on how to best solve access issues for both human and animal health took place among attendees. The following major themes developed from the two-day conference:
- Create connections between grantee partners and build programs that create shared value for all
- Build formal tools and resources to support grantees’ collaboration and skill sharing
Kathryn Traver, Vice President of the U.S. Chamber Foundation, delivered the conference’s keynote on the landscape of corporate citizenship and philanthropy.
“It’s not about charity anymore. Traditional philanthropy is just one element of the Corporate Citizenship spectrum,” said Traver. “Businesses today want to be a part of the solution, and that means being active partners in the success of their community yielding shared value. The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is a great example of an organization that’s moving in this direction, and we’ve seen that collaboration first hand through our work with them on our Sharing Solutions program.”
In fiscal year 2018, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation impacted more than 40 organizations worldwide and donated nearly $5 million in grants to support local communities. In addition, the Foundation has distributed more than 1 million drug deactivation resources to more than 200 organizations across the United States through its Safe Disposal Support Program.
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.
