Better Health, Brighter Future
Deerfield, Ill. (May 14, 2007) – Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., announced today it has formed new community partnerships with Girls on the Run-Chicago and Midtown Educational Foundation, two Chicago-area not-for-profit organizations. The three-year partnerships and $500,000 donation are part of Takeda’s focus on promoting health and wellness and commitment to give back to the communities where its patients and employees live and work.
Growing from three to more than 3,000 employees in nine years, Takeda opened a new 70-acre corporate home office in Deerfield, Ill., in October of 2006.
“Takeda is new to the Deerfield community and we look forward to making a difference locally and in the Chicagoland area by supporting two fantastic organizations, Girls on the Run and Midtown Educational Foundation,” said Mark Booth, president of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. “These partnerships will help promote the importance of healthy living to even the youngest members of our communities.”
Girls on the Run is a not-for-profit organization that uses running to educate and inspire girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. With Takeda’s monetary support, Girls on the Run-Chicago is adding after-school programs to schools in Lake and Cook counties. In addition to the new programs, Takeda’s support will also help fund the Spanish translation of the after-school program’s curriculum, which will be used in Girls on the Run programs throughout the country.
The Chicago organization’s signature event, the Takeda WonderGirl 5K, will be held on June 2 at Montrose Harbor in downtown Chicago. More than 1,500 girls will run with their parents, mentors and friends, as well as others in the running community, marking the end of the Girls on the Run Spring season.
“Our program currently reaches nearly 2000 girls a year; but that is just a sliver of the need that exists in Chicago-area communities,” said Kelly O’Brien, executive director of Girls on the Run Chicago. “With Takeda’s support, we will expand our outreach and bring Girls on the Run to more schools, and have already established a new program in Deerfield at South Park Elementary School.”
The Midtown Educational Foundation establishes and supports programs that promote the educational and personal development of Chicago's inner-city youth. These centers help kids become better students and better people through after-school and summertime enrichment programs. As a corporate partner, Takeda is sponsoring the Takeda-Midtown Summer Sports Program at the Midtown Center for boys – a program that helps encourage students to make healthy lifestyles a priority. With Takeda’s donation, more sports and additional resources will be provided to the students participating.
“Through academic and character development programs, we help 4th - 12th grade students realize their potential to go to college even though most come from demographic backgrounds that historically lack a strong educational support system,” said Glenn Wilke, executive director of Midtown Educational Foundation. “With Takeda’s support, we hope to continue our success rate of 100 percent enrollment in college.”
The partnerships continue through the end of 2009 and will align with the Takeda sponsorship of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, and other global wellness programs.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
Based in Deerfield, Ill., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. In the United States, Takeda currently markets products for diabetes, insomnia, wakefulness and gastroenterology. Through the Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. the company has a robust pipeline with compounds in development for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other conditions. Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products. To learn more about the company and its products, visit www.tpna.com .
Girls on the Run
Girls On The Run®-Chicago is a community-based non-profit organization that uses the power of running to change the way young girls see themselves and their opportunities. The innovative after-school program combines training for a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk with character-building lessons that inspire a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
Midtown Educational Foundation
Midtown Educational Foundation runs programs that help inner-city kids develop the habits and attitudes of achievers. It is particularly concerned that along with growing academically, children mature morally, acquiring the virtues and values needed for long-lasting achievement. Currently, MEF supports the Midtown Center for boys and the Metro Achievement Center for girls. These centers help Chicago's disadvantaged youths to develop morally and intellectually, and ultimately as responsible, caring adults. MEF seeks to share its experience through collaborative efforts with organizations that share its goals and values.
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