FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COON RAPIDS, Minnesota, September 11, 2009 – MEDRAD Interventional™/Possis® will suspend operations today and give 200-plus employees a paid day off to volunteer 1,200 man hours as part of the business’ first annual Day of Caring.
Employees will put aside their normal activities of developing and manufacturing life-saving cardiovascular catheters and other endovascular products to spend the day volunteering at 10 local Greater Twin Cities United Way community partners. “Offering employees an opportunity to volunteer en masse is just one example of our commitment to give back to the community and provide a rewarding workplace,” says Jim Gustafson, vice president and general manager, Minneapolis operations, MEDRAD Interventional/Possis. “Even though the Day of Caring is only one day, it reminds us of how much we are needed in our communities, especially when resources and funds are so limited.”
A small group of employees worked with the Greater Twin Cities United Way to coordinate the event. “We are excited that MEDRAD Interventional/Possis selected us to collaborate with them in placing their employees for their first Day of Caring. Our call-to-action for our Agenda for Lasting Change is to LIVE UNITED – to give, advocate and volunteer, and this day is an excellent example of that,” says Sue Moyer, Greater Twin Cities United Way Caring Connection program manager.
Volunteering will begin at 9 a.m., and last through the afternoon. Projects range from painting, landscaping, and improving child care centers to cleaning and making a domestic abuse shelter feel more like home.
At one of their largest projects, 40 employees will be assembling nonperishable and perishable food packages at the Emergency Foodshelf Network, a local full-service food bank in New Hope, for distribution to food shelves in the Twin Cities metro area. “We are not able to serve the 1.4 million plus individuals we serve every year without the support of volunteers from local companies like MEDRAD Interventional/Possis,” says Tim Barnes, executive director of Emergency Foodshelf Network Inc.
To celebrate their Day of Caring efforts, a 2:30 p.m. post-volunteer gathering will be held at the MEDRAD Interventional/Possis manufacturing facility located in Coon Rapids. In addition to the stories and photos that will be shared, Coon Rapids Mayor Tim Howe will make a special appearance. “This event is truly unique and special. I am so thrilled to see a local company in the region giving back to our communities in Coon Rapids and surrounding areas in a time when it is needed most,” says Mayor Tim Howe.
The MEDRAD Interventional/Possis business adopted the Day of Caring from MEDRAD Inc., based out of Pittsburgh, Pa. With Minneapolis’ participation, over 1,000 MEDRAD employees from around the world will volunteer in this year’s Day of Caring.
Possis Medical, a pioneer in the field of thrombus removal, recently merged with MEDRAD and the MEDRAD Interventional / Possis business focuses on advancing interventional medicine through research and innovation.
About MEDRAD, Inc.
MEDRAD, Inc. develops, markets and services medical devices used to diagnose and treat disease. Its product offerings include fluid injection systems for radiology and cardiology, endovascular devices for the safe treatment of cardiovascular disease, magnetic resonance-compatible accessories and equipment services. The company’s world headquarters is near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. MEDRAD is a business of Bayer Medical Care. More company information is available at www.medrad.com.
Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.
Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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