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Edwards Lifesciences VP challenges us to ‘dream bigger’ for underserved communities

Health Industry Hub | November 11, 2024 |

Social Impact: Edwards Lifesciences ANZ held its annual Foundation Grants Day, an event that brought to life the company’s commitment to making a difference in underserved communities.

Through two key programs – Every Heartbeat Matters and Strengthen Our Community – the Foundation’s work is rooted in compassion, reaching those who need it most. Every Heartbeat Matters focuses on improving lives of patients with heart valve disease, while Strengthen Our Community unites the talents and compassion of employees through volunteering.

“Patients are our focus,” stated Pat Williams, Vice President of Edwards Lifesciences ANZ and Korea. “Giving back to our communities and helping the underserved is a very important thread in our culture.”

The Foundation’s Grant Day brought together a diverse group of non-profit partners, including Menzies, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Red Dust, Exodus Foundation, Youth Off the Streets, Wairoa School, and Auckland City Mission.

Stefaan Poortman, Senior Director of Global Corporate Giving Strategy and Programs at Edwards Lifesciences, highlighted that giving back is “baked into the DNA” of the company. A striking 87% of employees globally participate in charitable activities each year, far surpassing the 30% – 40% benchmark typical of similar-sized organisations.

“It’s a true testament to our culture and our employees that there is such interest in participation,” Poortman remarked.

Dr Josh Francis from the Menzies School of Health Research highlighted the impact of Edwards’ support in improving rheumatic heart disease (RHD) diagnosis in First Nations communities in the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste.

“We’ve published crucial data showing that we can train healthcare workers to use echocardiography in a task-sharing model, allowing workers to upload images for cardiologists to review remotely and diagnose RHD accurately,” Dr Francis said. “We see the impact in people who get a timely diagnosis and access to treatment.

He added, “We’re also excited about building capacity and empowering Aboriginal Health Workers to continue this work sustainably.”

Claire Barber, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney, spoke movingly of the charity’s mission to support families with children undergoing medical treatment far from home.

“Our goal is to give them a home close to the hospital,” she said, adding that Edwards’ support has allowed over 244 families to call the house “home” over the years, some for as long as nine months. She shared the story of a family from rural New South Wales whose only child, Margarita, was diagnosed with leukaemia at just three months old.

Margarita’s grandparents who travelled all the way from Argentina to be with the family, said in a note to Barber, “The heart does not know languages, and in our hearts, we carry an unforgettable experience of family, support, love and attention. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts; we will not forget you.”

Annalise Wild, Corporate Partnerships Lead at Youth Off The Streets, shared the evolution of Father Chris Riley’s dream of supporting disadvantaged youth, which began with a food van in Kings Cross and now includes services like housing, education, youth justice and life skills training.

Edwards supports the charity’s driver training program, a crucial step in helping young people build independence and access opportunities. Wild recounted the story of June, a recent immigrant who passed her driving test and has now secured employment as a disability support worker, transporting children to various activities.

The Every Heartbeat Matters initiative is at the heart of Edwards’ philanthropy, partnering with over 70 global charities to invest $37 million and countless volunteer hours. From 2014-2020, the program exceeded its goal of reaching 1 million underserved people with heart valve disease, impacting 1.7 million lives. Edwards now aims to help an additional 2.5 million patients by 2025.

Poortman looked ahead to next year, saying “We will set an annual goal to track both funding from our Foundation and the time our employees contribute,” adding that the company will expand its employee matching gifts program beyond the U.S., further amplifying the impact of each individual’s commitment.

Williams concluded with a heartfelt challenge “to dream bigger” and deepen engagement in driving greater social impact.

“The work we do in our communities doesn’t just impact us professionally – it enriches our personal lives as well,” he said, underscoring the heart behind the company’s mission to serve the underserved.

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