AbbVie Employees Donate more than 26,000 Hours in One Week to Communities Around the World

• AbbVie UK joins colleagues around the world to make a difference in the lives of the underserved.
  
• More than 6,000 AbbVie employees in more than 50 countries will volunteer more than 26,000 service hours to make a difference in local communities during AbbVie’s Week of Possibilities.
  
• Follow the #AbbVieGivesBack story on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Maidenhead, UK, 26 June, 2017 – Today, AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, celebrates its fourth annual “Week of Possibilities,” where over 6,000 employees in 50+ countries will come together to make a difference in their respective communities. UK employees are mobilising this week in support of national and local charities with volunteers doing everything from marshalling charity fun runs to supporting town centre health roadshows across the UK.

Activity underway during the week includes:

• Helping the British Liver Trust run a series of city centre liver health roadshows across UK
• A team redecorating Maidenhead Royal Voluntary Service community hall
• Helping Mencap run a series of service user events at their Lambeth drop-in centre in London
• Fundraising for Alexander Devine Hospice at Henley Regatta
• Working with Macmillan Cancer Support in Reading to clear a garden for someone with cancer

In every Week of Possibilities location, the hands-on service projects are designed and implemented in partnership with non-profit partners close to the communities being served. These partnerships ensure that AbbVie volunteer efforts align with the needs of the community.

Gwenan White, Director of Communications and Patient Relations at AbbVie UK, said: “In the UK volunteering and support of charities is a year round activity. More than 150 colleagues helped out with causes during 2016 and we aim to match that this year. This includes everything from our long term support fundraising for a local hospice for children, Alexander Devine, in Maidenhead through to helping at national health awareness roadshows. Week of Possibilities is a great opportunity for us to link up with colleagues across the world who are doing the same.”

Andrew Langford, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said: “At the moment three quarters of people with liver disease are diagnosed in a hospital setting when they already have severe problems and by this time for many, it is too late. Our Love Your Liver campaign raises awareness of the risk factors and improves early diagnosis. I’d like to thank all the volunteers at AbbVie for giving up their time and supporting the campaign – it really can save lives.”

AbbVie launched “Week of Possibilities” in 2014, focusing on projects in North Chicago, Illinois, where the company is based. In 2015, AbbVie employees expanded their commitment to 45 countries, where more than 17,000 service hours were donated to non-profit organizations. The AbbVie initiative has continued to grow, and in 2016, the program volunteered over 25,000 service hours in 50 countries. AbbVie UK’s volunteering scheme, grants all staff one day a year of volunteering leave to either support a cause close to them or to pitch in on volunteering requests that have come in from local organisations. For more information and to register interest in volunteering support from AbbVie UK, email: sarah.whelan@abbvie.com.

“Week of Possibilities demonstrates our deep commitment to giving back to our communities and people in need. These volunteer opportunities are critically important to who we are as a company and the fabric of our culture. I am tremendously proud of the remarkable impact we are having during Week of Possibilities and beyond,” said Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie.

-ENDS-

About The AbbVie Foundation

The AbbVie Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation, is dedicated to having a remarkable impact on the lives of the underserved around the world through a commitment to building strong communities, sustainable health care systems and effective educational programs. For more information please visit www.abbviefoundation.org.

For further information about the British Liver Trust and the Love Your Liver campaign please visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk or contact Vanessa.hebditch@britishlivertrust.org.uk.

Prepared June 2017

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