The AmerisourceBergen Foundation Hosts Global Nonprofit Conference

On Tuesday, 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.