Home Health Care Improving the lives of children through wishes and medicine

Improving the lives of children through wishes and medicine

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This article is the result of a partnership between MedCity News and Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

For more than 40 years, biotechnology company Genentech has been developing medicines for some of the most difficult-to-treat conditions, from some of the most common to rare diseases. The organization’s transformational discoveries include the first targeted antibody for cancer, the first medicine for primary progressive multiple sclerosis and what was the first new treatment for a rare subset of people living hemophilia in nearly 20 years.

However, their leaders believe making medicines is just one way they can make a difference.

In 2018, Genentech provided a $250,000 grant to Make-A-Wish to support the wishes of children with rare medical conditions. In 2019, they renewed their support. The mission of Make-A-Wish is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, so joining together with Genentech was a natural fit.

“The partnership between Genentech and Make-A-Wish allows us to go beyond our medicines to help bring hope and joy to kids and families battling critical illnesses,” said Sonali Chopra, Director, Alliance and Advocacy Relations at Genentech. “We are humbled and honored to partner with the nonprofit and its volunteers to support this important work.”

With 14,000 employees working to solve unmet medical needs and 40 medicines currently on the market, Genentech has a culture dedicated to improving the lives of patients and their families. Much like Make-A-Wish, employees are passionate about their work.

Owen wanted to go to Hawaii, a wish that Genentech fulfilled.

“Genentech employees strive to always put patients at the center of everything we do,” said Chopra. “We value the opportunity to engage personally with the people we serve, as it helps us to never lose sight of those who live every day with the diseases we aim to treat.”

Employees have had the chance to interact with many wish families and one that stands out to team members is Owen’s wish reveal. Nearly 100 employees at the San Francisco headquarters joined together at a small luau event to celebrate Owen and reveal to him and his family that his wish to go to Hawaii was being granted.

“It was amazing to see Owen’s face when the wish was revealed,” said Chopra. “It was a moment none of us will ever forget.”

Photo: Make-A-Wish

 

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