May 2010 - NIBR Associates in Europe, the US, and Shanghai Volunteer on Community Partnership Day

More than 20,000 Novartis associates in 55 countries celebrated Novartis' 14th anniversary in style by participating in the annual Community Partnership Day, Novartis' annual volunteer event to benefit local charities. Joining in the late April festivities, were many Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) associates. About 500 NIBR scientists and staff volunteered at 18 agencies in the Greater Boston area, and NIBR campuses in Basel, Switzerland; Horsham, UK; and Shanghai, China were also busy.

“Whether you did recordings for the sight-impaired, helped with a field day for at-risk girls and boys, cleaned up along the Charles River, planted trees in Shanghai or helped out at a school in Horsham, you put on the human face of Novartis,” commented Mark Fishman, President of NIBR. “It's quite meaningful to see so many associates committed to helping improve the world, starting right in our own backyard. I thank you for the marvelous contributions you are making to our communities.”

Community Partnership Day has grown remarkably since 1996 with Novartis associates volunteering in the world's largest markets as well as some of the smallest—from the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil to Morocco, Slovakia, Bangladesh and the West Indies.

NIBR Basel, Switzerland

NIBR Horsham, UK

NIBR Associates headed to Holbrook, North Heath Lane; Northolmes, Leechpool Lane; and St. Robert Southwell schools to teach the science of solids, liquids and gases. Scientists and staff worked with pupils on hands-on experiments involving solid carbon dioxide and hot water as they demonstrated the inner workings of molecules.

NIBR Shanghai, China

Shanghai Associates focused on the environment, collaborating with Shanghai Roots & Shoots, a local organization that educates youth about environmental issues and humanitarian values with a special focus on group interaction. NIBR Shanghai pledged to plant 1,000 trees through the help of NIBR associates and the NIBR Shanghai matching grant program.

Additionally, two teams of Shanghai students performed an “Eco Audit” at NIBR research facilities, including eight buildings and the offices at the software park. Students interviewed associates about their daily habits at work and will present an energy consumption efficiency plan.

NIBR Cambridge, MA, USA

Closer to Boston, Leanne Smith, Lab Manager for Developmental and Molecular Pathways, served as team leader for about 40 NIBR associates at the Cambridge Community Center, which provides safe and structured after-school and summer programs for children from Cambridge, Somerville, Boston and other surrounding communities.

“We had a great day. Our team had associates from many NIBR departments who eagerly tackled cleaning and organizing toy closets, stuffing envelopes for a fundraiser, taking down an old play structure in preparation for a new playground, and painting a mural. We worked so well together that we finished early and were able to help out with some additional projects,” commented Leanne about her Community Partnership Day experience. “Not only did we help the wonderful people at the Cambridge Community Center, but we also benefited by getting to know some of our colleagues better. It was telling when everyone stayed for lunch to recap the day's activities.

“Novartis is doing an amazing thing bringing this many volunteers to help us out. We've got 17,000 square feet of space, serving kids from 4.5- to 13-years old all year round, and a staff of about a dozen who try to keep this building up. We couldn't do it without the help of volunteers and Novartis' annual visit helps us keep the building in great shape,” added David Gibbs, Executive Director, Cambridge Community Center.

NIBR, Emeryville, CA

NIBR East Hanover, NJ, associates will do their part in the fall. Once again Community Partnership Day not only demonstrated the individual passion to help others possessed by so many NIBR associates, but also how Novartis maintains its position as a global leader in healthcare solutions.

 

Back to top