Emergent BioSolutions: thinks locally, acts generously
“When the company was founded 20 years ago, it defined a singular, aspirational mission: to protect and enhance life,” said Emergent BioSolutions CEO Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi. “But this mission does not only apply to the products it develops to help governments protect the military and the general population against biological and chemical threats and emerging infectious diseases, the mission extends into the communities.”
Throughout Maryland, as well as other cities in North America, Emergent has developed philanthropic programs to strengthen relationships with local nonprofits and encourage employees to give back.
“In 2012, Emergent established eGIVE—Give, Invest, Volunteer in Emergent communities,” said Abdun-Nabi. “Through eGIVE, employee-led teams were activated to direct donations to nonprofits and to organize volunteer activities in regions like Baltimore, Montgomery County, and Washington, D.C.; Lansing, Michigan; Canton, Massachusetts; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.”
Emergent also partners on the corporate level with nonprofit organizations whose mission align with its focus areas, such as the MdBio Foundation to promote STEM education in Maryland public schools, the USO Metro Washington-Baltimore to advance programs for active military and veterans and their families, or Rivers of Recovery, which is dedicated to rehabilitating combat veterans using outdoor-based therapies.
Emergent’s corporate social responsibility efforts take a five-pillar approach.
Advancing Global Health
Emergent broadly supports efforts to address global health concerns. It created the Emergent Public Health Fellowship Program to help promising master’s and Ph.D. students at Johns Hopkins University research globally significant diseases. Also in Baltimore, several employees have supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation One Walk for several years, making Emergent among the top 15 corporate teams in the area.
Protecting Those Who Protect Us
As a sponsor and supporter of USO-Metro, Emergent employees participate in Operation: Back to School, a one-day event to help get military kids school-ready with fun learning activities and a backpack stuffed with new school supplies. Over the years, employees have assisted with packing and distributing more than 10,000 backpacks destined for three military bases in the Baltimore – Washington, D.C. area. Emergent also sponsored construction of a new USO recreation center and, most recently, a new family center at the Military Entrance Process Station where all enlistees are processed prior to induction into the armed services. Employees are also actively involved with volunteering with the American Red Cross and Hero Dogs, a local non-profit that trains service dogs to help veterans.
Educating Tomorrow’s Scientific Leaders
In addition to a $25,000 annual gift supporting MdBio Foundation’s mobile science lab that travels to every school district in Maryland, employees volunteer for MdBio events and expos, and host field trips for students to interact with Emergent scientists at local facilities. At Patterson High School in Baltimore, Emergent employees first served as judges for a STEM competition, then expanded their support by hosting tours of Baltimore-area facilities, providing guest speakers and providing financial support for industry-related field trips or for students competing in STEM competitions.
Improving Communities
Baltimore area Emergent employees have been active volunteering with the Maryland Food Bank, sorting and organizing donations for distribution at community outreach centers, and the Family Crisis Center, which provides services for those experiencing family violence. Employees have helped the FCC through financial contributions and support of special events, including an Angel Tree event and pizza party with Santa, supplying treats for a Fourth of July gathering, donating new mattresses, and painting murals in FCC’s hallways.
Sustaining Our Environment
In 2017, Emergent added this fifth pillar to its program to better the environment. Employee-led teams are driving local green initiatives. For example, in Winnipeg, Emergent launched a garment recycling program to divert all single-use garments worn by employees who work in manufacturing. In just one month, 1,400 pounds of waste were made into new products like chairs, planters and shelving. And in Lansing, a recycling program collected more than 1,100 refundable cans in its first six weeks. The deposits were donated to the local Ronald McDonald House.
“Over the last five years, the eGIVE program has expanded exponentially, as the number of participants has doubled and hours volunteered grew four-fold,” said Abdun-Nabi. “In 2017 alone, the company contributed more than $1.6 million in funds and time from more than 625 employees to benefit 250 nonprofit organizations. We are really proud of this effort and the impact it has in our communities.”
