Astellas Pharma Canada Employees Participate in First Annual 'Changing
Tomorrow Day'

Astellas Partners with Volunteer Canada and Local Organizations to Give Back to Community as Part of Global Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative  

MARKHAM, ON, Oct. 19 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, approximately 100 Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. ("Astellas") employees are donating a half day of their time to charitable activities around Canada through a partnership with Volunteer Canada. The event is part of a new global volunteer initiative, 'Changing Tomorrow Day,' that empowers Astellas employees to make a difference in their local communities.  

Through the 'Changing Tomorrow Day' initiative, Astellas affiliates around the world will participate in social action programs related to health or the environment during the months of September and October. In Canada, employees are donating more than 400 hours of total volunteer time at 10 sites across the country.

Approximately 60 employees located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will volunteer with Friends of the Rouge Watershed and will spend the day planting ecological matter in this environmentally sensitive urban area. Protecting the Rouge River watershed and surrounding watersheds supports healthy habitat for diverse flora and fauna.  It also safeguards human health by sustaining the ecological processes that naturally protect the quality of our air, water, land and food.  Canada wide field-based employees will volunteer at various local nursing home facilities providing assistance through recreational activities or meal delivery programs.

"Even as we expand our philanthropic efforts each year, and encourage our employees to dedicate their time year-round to volunteer opportunities, this day of giving as a global team will continue to be one of the company's proudest corporate social achievements," said Michael Tremblay, president of Astellas Pharma Canada. "Changing Tomorrow Day not only allows us to volunteer together as a team, but also enables us to build stronger relationships that will make an impact in the communities where we work and live."

"Volunteer Canada is proud to work with Astellas on their Changing Tomorrow Day initiative.  The impact that this one day will have on the community is profound. We hope this initiative continues to inspire and motivate Astellas employees to become lifelong volunteers and embrace the spirit of giving back," states Volunteer Canada's President and CEO Ruth MacKenzie. "Employer supported volunteerism is integral to the landscape of volunteering. We're excited to see Astellas become a champion for corporate citizenship here in Canada."

Astellas is committed to being a company that is known for its corporate citizenship. Volunteerism   is entrenched in the Astellas culture as each full-time employee is given up to five days paid time off to provide volunteer support to charitable organizations. Astellas' social and ethical conduct can also be seen on a daily basis through the nature of our business and professional relationships, in broader engagements at the local, regional and national levels, as well as in the development of innovative and award-winning community-based educational initiatives that have been made possible through Astellas.

About Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.
Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. is a Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas was formed in 2005 through the merger of two companies - Fujisawa and Yamanouchi. Astellas Pharma Canada has an intense focus on five key therapeutic areas - Infectious Disease, Immunology, Cardiology, Urology and Dermatology - and is considered a leader in these fields. Additional corporate information is available at www.astellas.com/ca.

About Volunteer Canada
Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, the organization has been committed to increasing and supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs, special projects and national initiatives, by developing resources and by engaging in research and training across the country. Working with volunteer centres, community and national organizations and businesses, Volunteer Canada actively leads national dialogues on how volunteerism relates to citizen engagement and civil society and provides leadership on issues and trends in the Canadian volunteer movement. To learn more about Volunteer Canada, please visit volunteer.ca

For further information:

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.:
Michelle Reale, Corporate Communications
[phone]
[email protected]