Seven Innovative Nonprofits Receive $40,000 GSK IMPACT Awards for Contributing to a Healthier Philadelphia

November 20, 2013 /3BL Media/ - GSK [LSE/NYSE: GSK] today announced the GSK IMPACT Award Winners for the Greater Philadelphia Region in a ceremony at GSK’s facility at The Philadelphia Navy Yard. Seven local nonprofits earned $40,000 each in recognition of their outstanding contributions to a healthier Philadelphia.

The winners are:

• Center in the Park, Inc. – Building healthy communities by addressing health disparities among older African Americans.
• Common Market Philadelphia, Inc. –  Building healthy communities by connecting communities with healthy, sustainably grown farm food.
• Homeless Advocacy Project – Building healthy communities by improving self-sufficiency through high quality legal services.
• Inn Dwelling – Building healthy communities by helping families become self-sufficient and upwardly mobile.
• Lutheran Settlement House – Building healthy communities by empowering individuals and families through social, educational, and advocacy services.
• MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) – Building healthy communities by providing medically appropriate meals for people with life-threatening illnesses.
• New Kensington Community Development Corporation – Building healthy communities by enhancing the physical, social, and economic fabric of the community through sustainable development.

“There is a critically important connection between our health and our community,” said Katie Loovis, Director, US Community Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, GSK. “The more we understand this connection, the more we can improve it. Today’s GSK IMPACT Award Winners show us how it’s done.”

Much of what influences our health happens outside the doctor’s office – in our communities. Community factors such as safety, the accessibility of healthy foods and recreational spaces, and the support of families and social networks undeniably contribute to our health, and present a formidable challenge for GSK to achieve our mission of helping people do more, feel better, and live longer. The scope of the GSK IMPACT Awards was expanded this year to recognize nonprofit organizations with sensible, sustainable programs that address these critical community factors.

The Selection Process:
This was a competitive awards process with more than fifty applications. GSK US Community Partnership staff members reviewed the applications and coordinated site visits, and then the winners were selected by a panel of local and national health experts.

Applications were accepted from nonprofit organizations that addressed at least one of seven following health factors and measures: 1) Diet and Exercise; 2) Access to Care; 3) Community Safety; 4) Education; 5) Employment; 6) Family and Social Support; and 7) the Built Environment. Through the process, applicants had to demonstrate that their organization has stable operations and strong financial health, and that their programming is evidence-informed, innovative, collaborative, replicable or scalable, and systemic.

The Event:
The GSK IMPACT Award Winners for the Greater Philadelphia Region were recognized today in a ceremony and reception featuring Executive Host Deirdre Connelly, President, NA Pharmaceuticals, GSK; Emcee Renee Chenault-Fattah, News Anchor, NBC-10; and a special musical performance by teachers from Play On Philly. The event took place at GSK’s new double LEED® platinum certified facility at The Philadelphia Navy Yard.

The History of GSK IMPACT Awards:

• For 17 years, GSK has honored outstanding nonprofit programs that are improving access to health in and around our U.S. corporate campuses in Durham, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with GSK IMPACT Awards.
• To date, 173 exemplary U.S.-based nonprofits have been honored with $6.9 million in GSK IMPACT Awards. And more than $5.5 million has been awarded to 136 local nonprofit organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
• The name ‘IMPACT’ derives from the focus that winners must have demonstrated in their application submissions: Innovation, Management, Partnership, Achievement, Community Focus, and Targeting Need.

Healthy Communities:
As part of GSK’s longstanding commitment to building Healthy Communities, in 2012 the company launched a national initiative designed to better understand the barriers and identify opportunities for building healthier communities in the United States. Phase one of Healthy Communities featured a listening tour that uncovered new insights about what it means, and what it takes to build a healthy community. Phase two, which includes the expanded scope of the GSK IMPACT Awards, will leverage that knowledge and demonstrate innovative ways local organizations and businesses can work together to build healthier communities.

GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information go to us.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/). 

Join the conversation! Tweet using @GSKUS and #GSKimpact.

View and download photos of the GSK IMPACT Award winners.

GSK Media  Inquiries:
Jennifer Armstrong
Jennifer.L.Armstrong@gsk.com
+1 215 751 5664
(Philadelphia)