GSK steps up for COVID-19
GSK has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and is supporting global efforts to tackle the virus. In addition, since the start of the pandemic, GSK in Canada has been actively exploring ways to support those in our communities waging war against COVID-19.
GSK’s Canadian operations – which include Pharma, ViiV, Manufacturing, Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines - are now taking a Canada-wide approach to support COVID-19 relief efforts. Towards this, GSK in Canada has made available $950,000 in corporate grants. The main pillars of this initiative are:
- Over $650,000 available in donations, in support of charitable needs across the country during the pandemic;
- $175,000 in grants and donations for patient groups, community groups, personal protective equipment and Independent Medical Education (IME)
- Up to $120,000 toward matching employee donations to charitable organizations in a 2:1 ratio;
- Providing GSK employees four paid volunteering days in 2020 (one per quarter – Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) to enable them to volunteer their time for COVID-19 related initiatives
Donations
Over $650,000 available in corporate donations, in support of needs across the country during the pandemic. To date, the following groups have received a donation:
- Save the Children (STC)
- United Way / Centraide
- Innovative Medicines Canada Fund
- HIV Community Fund – which includes Elevate NWO, Fife House, Clinique Quorum, Clinique Actuel and Mainline Needle Exchange a patient support network in Halifax
Patient Groups Donations
To date, GSK in Canada has granted over $90,000 to patient organizations to continue supporting their COVID-19 action plans which includes reaching out to their communities, providing relevant information and education as they face new organizational challenges.
Personal protective equipment donations
Alongside our global efforts to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic with our science and expertise, our Canadian operations have donated much needed surplus Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in support of government requests. To date, GSK has been able to donate 1,500 N-95 masks to the Government of Quebec, 1,500 N-95 masks to the Government of Ontario and a further 500 masks to a child care center in Ste. Foy, Quebec. Additionally, in our effort to support front-line health workers, we have donated 2.5 pallets of PPEs to the Region of Peel which will be shared between long-term care facilities and paramedics in the Peel region.
Employee Giving & Corporate Match
GSK in Canada is establishing a COVID-19 Employee Giving & Corporate Match initiative giving employees a say on charity donations. One charitable organization will be selected by GSK employees in each of the four regions – Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic and West. GSK will match funds contributed by employees to each of the selected four charities in a 2:1 ratio, up to a maximum of $30,000 per charitable match with a potential total investment of $120,000.
Employee volunteering
For the remainder of 2020, GSK in Canada is offering its employees three additional Orange Days (one per quarter Q2, Q3, Q4), to volunteer with a charity or a non-governmental organization partner to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
Launched in 2009, the Orange Day initiative allows all GSK employees to take one day off each year to volunteer with a charity or a non-governmental organization partner, either individually or with their team. Orange Day is on company time and employees can choose any day to volunteer.
GSK Canada expanded this volunteering initiative out of a recognition that community volunteers are needed now more than ever, and that its employees’ experience and expertise are invaluable to organizations at the frontlines of community health.
Through this pandemic, our priority remains the welfare of employees and helping to limit the spread of the virus in our communities while continuing to ensure the quality, safety and reliable supply of our medicines and products that are critical to the patients we serve. Globally, GSK is prioritizing the fight against the COVID-19 virus. Towards this, we currently have a number of collaborations supporting the development of a vaccine against the virus.
