CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Science Cares, a breakthrough group of life science leaders and companies who aggregate human and financial resources and deploy them against poverty, today announced donations of more than $300,000 to 19 social service organizations devoted to the health, education and development of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in New England.

The grants cap the organization’s first year and mark its arrival as a prominent new member of Boston’s philanthropic community. The grantees include Life Science Cares’ seven inaugural partner organizations as well as 12 additional organizations.

The recipients of this year’s grants include:

• Food for Free, an organization fighting hunger which runs the Family Meals program,repurposing prepared foods into single-serving meals for people with limited access to kitchens.
• More Than Words, a social service organization that empowers youth in foster care, those involved in the court system, and those who are homeless or out of school to start and operate businesses.
• The Possible Project, an enrichment program using entrepreneurship & design thinking as a framework to close the skills and opportunities gap facing young people with untapped potential.

(See below for a full list of recipients.)

Robert J. Perez, former CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals who is the founder and chairman of Life Science Cares, said, “We in Boston’s life science community have long tackled the most difficult and complex scientific challenges in order to serve patients in need. As an extension of our work bringing new treatments to patients, we now commit our time, talent and resources to tackle one of the most intractable issues facing our community: poverty. The response from companies and individuals has been amazing.”

In its initial year of service, Life Science Cares has organized the donation of prepared food that is providing 100 meals a week for hungry families, raised funds for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and Texas, and matched life science industry employees with more than 1,750 hours of volunteer service.

“Life Science Cares is built around a unique model that enables companies of any size to pool their resources in order have the most impact with their philanthropy and volunteerism,” said Sarah MacDonald, the group’s executive director. “In this case, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and we expect that to be reflected in the partnerships we’re building with these grants.”

Added Bob Coughlin, President and CEO of MassBio, the leading life science industry organization in Massachusetts, “As one of the state’s leading industries, we have the responsibility to give back to our neighbors and communities in a meaningful way. Life Science Cares goes above and beyond what was initially thought possible by directly funding organizations who are making a difference. I congratulate the LSC team for making this essential effort a reality.”

Life Science Cares expects to make annual grants to fight poverty and improve education and economic sustainability in Greater Boston. For more information, please visit www.lifesciencecares.org.

About Life Science Cares

Life Science Cares harnesses the financial and human resources of the life science industry to fight poverty in Greater Boston. It builds deep and meaningful partnerships with local organizations that do the best work fighting poverty. Its members are focused on helping our communities address basic human survival by fighting hunger, homelessness and domestic abuse; provide education by funding STEM programs, college preparation and success classes and educational enrichment efforts; and economic sustainability by providing job creation, job training and mentoring. Learn more at www.lifesciencecare.org.