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The Baxter International Foundation and Direct Relief Launch Program to Improve Diabetes Care in Underserved CommunitiesThe Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), and the global humanitarian organization Direct Relief announced today the launch of the Transformative Innovation Awards for Community Health: Incorporating Nutrition to Improve Diabetes Health Outcomes. The three-year program will award $750,000 in funding to health centers and free and charitable clinics that are working to improve diabetes health outcomes for patients, focusing on the Greater Chicago area in the first year. "Ensuring that individuals from all communities and neighborhoods have access to needed health resources is one of the reasons that we partner with companies like Baxter," said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO, Direct Relief. "We're excited to build on our collaboration with Baxter for the Transformative Innovation Awards and highlight the efforts of local providers who are bringing access to care for patients and communities." The health centers and charitable clinics selected for the first year will use the awards to expand nutrition education and diabetes prevention programs in communities located on the west and southwest sides of Chicago and Crystal Lake, Ill. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there are an estimated 1.3 million people in Illinois living with diabetes, and another 3.6 million are prediabetic.1 "We're honored to expand our work with Direct Relief to bring needed resources to health centers that are working tirelessly to improve care for patients living with diabetes in under-resourced areas," said VerĂ³nica Arroyave, executive director of the Baxter International Foundation. Nearly $200,000 was awarded to the following organizations for the Transformative Innovation Awards in 2019:
Erie Family Health Center Inc.
Family Health Partnership Clinic
About the Baxter International Foundation Every day, Baxter strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who depend on Baxter products and in the communities where employees live and work. The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., helps advance the company's mission to save and sustain lives. Baxter partners with organizations around the world to increase access to healthcare for the underserved, to develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing healthcare and to create a long-lasting impact in communities globally. Baxter is proud to support initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact in these critical areas. For more information, please visit Baxter's Corporate Responsibility page. About Baxter Every day, millions of patients and caregivers rely on Baxter's leading portfolio of critical care, nutrition, renal, hospital and surgical products. For more than 85 years, we've been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers that make it happen. With products, technologies and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter's employees worldwide are now building upon the company's rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxter.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. About Direct Relief A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need-without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org. Baxter is a registered trademark of Baxter International Inc. 1 Illinois Department of Public Health View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190821005110/en/ |