EXTON, Pa.—The Philadelphia Business Journal recognized West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. as a recipient of the 2019 Faces of Philanthropy award.
West, honored for its ongoing support of Fox Chase Cancer Center, received the award during a breakfast ceremony April 11, according to a West news release.
The Faces of Philanthropy awards recognize Philadelphia-based companies that have made a large impact on the community through monetary donations, social impact and community involvement through philanthropic initiatives with a non-profit organization, according to the release.
The support is part of West's annual Fox Chase Campaign, a highlight of the company's West without Borders employee-led fundraising effort, according to Annette Favorite, West's senior vice president and chief human resources officer.
"Our partnership with West Pharmaceutical Services is more than professional; it is personal. This is because cancer is personal," Richard Fisher, president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center said in a statement. "The people of West have joined with us for many years to advance cancer research and care through their work as well as through their financial support. Their contributions are evident at every level of their organization; truly, philanthropy is a part of their culture. We congratulate everyone at West for this well-deserved honor as they are recognized for an undeniable commitment to philanthropy."
West's support encompasses corporate giving through West Pharmaceutical Services; the Herman O. West Foundation, an independently managed 501(c)(3) entity; and West without Borders. Since the inception of West without Borders in 2004, team members at more than 27 sites have raised and donated millions of dollars for a variety of charities worldwide. West's recent annual Food Drive resulted in Exton team members donating 6,500 pounds of food, which was delivered to the Chester County Food Bank, and more than 65,000 pounds of food donated to a variety of charities and food banks across the globe.
West created an employee emergency fund to assist West team members who are facing financial hardship as a result of a natural disaster or an unforeseen personal hardship. The new fund kicked off with a global fundraising effort this year, and through company and employee giving as well as a matching donation from the H.O. West Foundation, more than $350,000 was raised. It is now used to support grants to West employees.
"We are extremely proud of our team members' ongoing commitment to Fox Chase Cancer Center, which helps this important institution advance their mission to prevail over cancer, and demonstrates the West commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and work," Favorite said in a statement.
Fox Chase Cancer Center is part of the Temple University Health System and has earned a National Cancer Institute designation.
West is a manufacturer of packaging components and delivery systems for injectable drugs and health care products. It reported net sales of $1.6 billion in 2017.