Originally published at sanofi.us. Sanofi U.S. ranked No. 27 on The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2021.
At Sanofi, we take pride in celebrating the outstanding efforts of colleagues who go the extra mile to support the communities where we live and work. Building a just and equitable future for everyone depends on good corporate citizenship and supporting employees working towards those same goals. This year, and every year, we reaffirm our belief that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, to be healthy, to be an innovator, and to be part of a flourishing community. These beliefs form Sanofi’s philosophy on US Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and underpin every facet of our business. Our dedicated employees play a key role in living these beliefs.
At our second annual Social Impact Awards, we celebrate employees who have gone above and beyond in giving their time and talents to their local communities and beyond. Nominated by their peers, this year’s awards received more than double the submissions compared to the prior year. This level of engagement fuels our listen-and-learn strategy and helps inform how we think about the future of our CSR programs.
Congratulations to all the winners! And to all of those who led selfless acts of giving and kindness throughout 2021 and beyond, we thank you.
Health Equity Award
Winner: General Medicines Transplant Team
- Angie Bricco, Public Affairs Lead
- Olga Hernandez, Marketing & Business Operations Director
- Jordan Sexton, Product Manager
- Veronica Martinez, US Brand Lead, Solid Organ Transplant
- Kevin Campbell, Head of Transplant Team
- Abby Bassett, Transplant Network Manager
- Pablo Guzman, Executive Sales Representative
Our General Medicines Transplant Team understands the disparities of transplantation and took action. Angie Bricco shares how Sanofi partnered with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), a leading transplant medical professional association to make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority.
The team took additional action in their local communities by addressing language barriers around transplantation. Olga Hernandez translated the Transplant Kidney Connectors program for Spanish- speaking patients, which resulted in two potential new living kidney donors in Texas and improved access to donor registration.
STEM Education Equity Award
Winner: Michael Phipps, Research and Development Project Manager
When it comes to volunteering, our STEM Education Equity winner, Michael Phipps, reminds us that “with a small amount of effort, you can make a significant impact in someone’s life.” Michael is dedicated to helping students understand and see themselves in the diversity of STEM career roles, especially ones that are available at Sanofi.
For many years, Michael has partnered with an at-risk youth program at a Massachusetts high school known as “Resiliency for Life.” During COVID-19, he arranged a virtual STEM mentoring session and invited several Sanofi employees from across the company to share their passion for working in STEM and assure the students that a career in STEM is possible for all. Michael’s leadership and decades of dedicated work mentoring students in his local community empower the next generation of STEM leaders our world needs.
Local People, Local Priorities Award
Winners:
- Kristen Roberts, Clinical Research Manager
- Katie Perkins, Area Business Manager
- George Dickens, Field Medical Lead
- Marcus Crawford, Regional Account Director
- Bhavesh Patel, Senior Director of Security
- Lori Smith, Administrative Coordinator
This stellar group of six employees was each awarded the Local People, Local Priorities recognition for their efforts to support the communities where they live and work.
Kristen Roberts started the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation (MJR) in 2019 in honor of her son, who died by suicide. The MJR mission is to promote youth mental health and suicide prevention through effective programs with youth, family, coaches and more.
Katie Perkins is committed to expanding access to healthy meals in underserved communities. Supporting an organization called Breakthrough Urban Ministries, she can be found at home every Tuesday evening preparing dinner for 30+ people in the greater Chicago area.
George Dickens sprang into action during the pandemic to help administer vaccines to nearly 4,000 people a day near his home in Kentucky. He also inspired other Sanofi employees to become certified to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Marcus Crawford is committed to mentoring and empowering girls through the power of sports activities. He and his wife, along with their two daughters, created Angel Athletics, a nonprofit committed to the empowerment of young girls and leadership development through sports in his Southeast Chicago community.
Bhavesh Patel provides support, mentorship, expertise and time wherever he can to help others. He mentors and supports his family members who still live in his home village in India and those who have emigrated to the U.S. He also volunteers at the nonprofit, Will Power for Veterans, which raises awareness and support for soldiers and veterans of war.
Lori Smith’s philanthropic spirit has made a lasting impact on her community in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. There, Lori has mobilized hundreds of volunteers at the Sanofi Pasteur site throughout her nearly two decades of volunteering. Her efforts coordinating local community programs and leading fundraisers have helped thousands of children, adults and struggling families within Monroe County.
Tony Whalen Mentorship Award
Winner: Rabiya Kader, Intellectual Property Lead
Rabiya Kader is a tireless proponent for women and minorities, an advocate for all and our 2021 Tony Whalen Mentorship Award winner.
To help promote diversity in the workplace, Rabiya led the transformation of our legal summer internship program to include people of more diverse backgrounds.
She has continued to give her time and talent to help those in her community. As a graduate of Rutgers School of Law’s Minority Student Program and an active member of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyer’s Association and the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, Rabiya mentors students from her alma mater and these organizations and continues to champion D&I within the practice of law.
