Amgen Foundation Recognizes Outstanding Staff Volunteers and Contributes $55,000 to Their Favorite Local Nonprofits

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Nov 11, 2010, 04:05 ET

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen today announced the 11 recipients of the Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Awards. Launched this year by the Amgen Foundation, the Awards recognize staff in the United States (U.S.) and Puerto Rico who are making a difference in the communities where the company has a presence. The Amgen Foundation will award $5,000 to each nonprofit organization featured in the winning staff members' applications.

"At Amgen, we are committed to strengthening our communities through grantmaking, matching staff contributions and volunteering," said Jean J. Lim, president of the Amgen Foundation. "Many of our staff have made a true impact in the community through volunteer efforts and we aim to grow this support by recognizing outstanding volunteers through the annual Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Awards program."

The recipients were selected by a panel of external reviewers from key community groups based on impact of the applicant's volunteer efforts, frequency of volunteer activity and length of time committed, and a letter of recommendation from the nonprofit organization.

2010 Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Awards Recipients

California

Ogo Egbuna, Research and Development, volunteer for Conejo Free Clinic
Kim Larkins, Research and Development, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
Chris Lindsay, Sales and Marketing, volunteer for the Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast
Bella Oguno, Research and Development, volunteer for International Medical Relief
Chris Wright, Worldwide Business Continuity & Crisis Management, volunteer for National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

Colorado

Ralph Payne, Manufacturing, volunteer for Livermore Fire Protection District

Field Staff

Susan McHugh, Sales and Marketing, volunteer for Tammany Trace Foundation in Louisiana

Massachusetts

Matthew Weiss, Research and Development, volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay

Puerto Rico

Ana Delma Lebron, Manufacturing, volunteer for Puerto Rico Youth at Risk

Rhode Island

Richard Fitzpatrick, Security and Emergency Services, volunteer for Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy

Washington

Justine Dell'Aringa, Research and Development, volunteer for Seattle Tilth Association

Click here to view complete details about the recipients.

As a part of the Amgen Volunteers program, the Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Awards will annually recognize outstanding staff volunteers from Amgen's U.S. and Puerto Rico sites and field-based staff and will provide a $5,000 award to each nonprofit organization featured in the winning staff members' applications. To be considered, Amgen staff were asked to complete an application with information about their volunteer services and provide a letter of recommendation from the nonprofit organization.

Amgen Volunteers is an Amgen Foundation program that connects staff members with local volunteer opportunities they are passionate about, and provides $500 Volunteer Service Grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for every 15 hours volunteered by Amgen staff. Since 2007, more than $1.5 million has been contributed as a result of staff volunteer efforts in their local communities.

The Amgen Foundation also matches staff contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Since 1993, the Amgen Foundation has matched $23 million in staff donations, resulting in nearly $47 million of support to worthy causes. In 2009 alone, Amgen Foundation matched more than 8,800 staff member gifts resulting in nearly $6.5 million to support the work of outstanding organizations.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About the Amgen Foundation

The Amgen Foundation (www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made $140 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways, and those that provide disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.

CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks

Kristen Davis, (805) 447-3008 (media)

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SOURCE Amgen