Post on 24-Mar-2020
Life Science Cares A collective effort of the life science industry to help address impact of
poverty and inequality on our neighbors in the greater Boston area.
We are uniting the human and financial resources of life science companies and industry leaders to support service organizations that do the best work in fighting poverty and providing educational opportunity in our community.
We work with organizations doing work in three areas: Survival Education Economic Sustainability
Poverty in Greater Boston 21.6% of Boston’s population lives
in poverty. 14% of Cambridge residents lives in poverty. 1
Since the recent recession, the population of school aged kids living in poverty has skyrocketed. 2
In 2014, 78% of public school students in Boston qualified for public aid. 3
1 BRA Boston in Poverty report. Cambridge Community Foundation Hometown Boomtown report.2 Boston Business Journal 11/5/153Boston Globe 3/17/16
Income Inequality in Greater Boston• “Of more than 3,000 US
counties, Suffolk is among the top 50 most unequal due in part to its successful knowledge economy, which abundantly rewards those with advanced skills while harshly punishing those without a good education.”1
• The top 1% of residents in Suffolk County make on average more than 50 times the annual income of the remaining 99%.3
1Brookings Institute3 Economic Policy Institute
WHY Life Science Cares Industry of smart, energized people who care deeply about humanity and
their community.- Most of whom work in companies that are not profitable and therefore have little
presence in the community outside of the disease state in which they work.
Lots of new wealth has been created through life sciences and we are arguably the highest profile industry in Greater Boston.
Individuals and companies are all doing their own thing (which is great and should continue), but we are not doing anything collectively as a community.• All at a time when our industry and it’s leaders are profiled regularly about how
well we are doing.
• Divide between “haves” and “have nots” is as wide as anywhere, but the geographic distance is as small as anywhere. - We are a small town and everyone is connected.
Our Industry’s Reputation 4 in 10 respondents (42%) have a positive view of pharma companies.
- That ranks the Pharma Industry almost at the bottom, with just oil companies lower (40%).
Pharma did "win" among those who said their opinion was "very unfavorable," drawing 30% of the respondents, the most of any industry. - By comparison, oil companies were at 27% and health insurance companies
at 25%.
…74% said Big Pharma is too concerned about making money and not concerned enough about helping people.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation August 2015
Our Investment Model Life Science Cares will provide the following resources to its nonprofit
partner organizations: Grants and other financial support Volunteer time and life science employee engagement Pro Bono professional services from partners and Life Science company talent Pipeline of talent for nonprofit boards, working committees, etc.
Scale investments based on on annual financial contributions from previous year
Investment budget and partner list selected annually by Board of Directors Recommendations from Board of Advisors
Board (Board of Directors + Board of Advisors) will cover admin costs so every dollar raised will go to fighting poverty.
Proposed Investment Portfolio
Sustainability
Education
Survival
Job CreationWorkforce Training
Business SupportMentoring
STEMCollege Prep & Success
EntrepreneurshipEnrichment & Inspiration
HungerHomelessness
SafetyDomestic Abuse
Out of Scope Investments Disease-related causes
Hospital or healthcare investments
Individual schools (including charter schools)
Arts and humanities
Religious organizations
Inaugural Partners
Council of Champions The Council of Champions is a peer group of ambitious, engaged employees
within the life sciences industry that serve as advocates for and ambassadors of Life Science Cares. The members of the Council are charged with engaging their networks in the mission of Life Science Cares through volunteer recruitment, social events, and fundraising. The group meets quarterly to network, and we will call upon the Council in between gatherings to round up volunteers or plan events.
The Council of Champions has three key areas of focus:- Community Involvement: Engage your personal and professional networks to expand
our corporate and employee volunteer pipelines.- Sustainability: Contribute to the fiscal sustainability of Life Science Cares through both
personal contributions as well as assisting in other fundraising campaigns. Assist in recruiting and vetting additional Council members for sustainability of leadership body.
- Brand Building: Increase awareness and visibility of Life Science Cares by promoting through your social networks.
Our NeedsLife Science Cares is looking for volunteers to help build our organization. Specifically, we are looking for expertise in:
• Fundraising
• Event Planning
• IT Support (database, web, etc.)
• Communications (marketing, web, social media, graphic design, etc.)
• Member Services (connecting members with volunteer requests)
EngageVolunteer with our nonprofit partnersWe are building a list of volunteer opportunities (one time and recurring, short-term and long-term, varied levels of commitment) and will use our network to source the right people to help. Help us get your team involved. Sign up for our newsletter for updates.
Join the Council of Champions.The Council of Champions are our “boots on the ground,” those movers and shakers within companies who can motivate their colleagues to get involved in volunteer activities and programs. Join today.
Donate. Encourage others to donate.Consider adding Life Science Cares to your corporate philanthropy strategy, or personal giving. Donate online at www.LifeScienceCares.org.
CONTACT US
sarah@lifesciencecares.org617-637-5052
P.O. Box 425486Cambridge, MA 02142