/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - AmeriCares has awarded its annual Power of Partnership Award to the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies for its longstanding support of AmeriCares emergency response work and ongoing medical assistance programs around the world. AmeriCares President & CEO Curt Welling presented the award today at the Healthcare Distribution Management Association's (HDMA) Business & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.

The Power of Partnership Award was created by AmeriCares and HDMA to recognize medical manufacturing and distribution organizations that have shown exceptional dedication to expanding access to medicines and health care for disadvantaged populations.

"It is because of great corporate partners like Johnson & Johnson that AmeriCares is able to deliver medical assistance to more than 90 countries annually," Welling said. "By placing Johnson & Johnson products in the hands of skilled medical professionals in the developing world, together we're restoring health and saving lives."

For over 25 years, Johnson & Johnson has supported AmeriCares humanitarian aid programs with product donations as well as cash grants. To date, Johnson & Johnson affiliates have donated more than $136 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to AmeriCares for people recovering from devastating natural disasters, facing civil conflict and suffering from extreme poverty.

"It's an honor to accept this award from AmeriCares, an organization whose founder, Bob Macauley, had a vision nearly 30 years ago of delivering medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world. The vision was exemplary, and the work today under the leadership of Curt Welling and his team is truly remarkable," said Sharon D'Agostino, Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Contributions & Community Relations, Johnson & Johnson. "Our partnership with AmeriCares is built on trust, common purpose and a commitment to helping people facing extremely challenging circumstances."

AmeriCares has delivered Johnson & Johnson products to people in need through its emergency response work, Medical Outreach Program and ongoing shipments to hospitals and clinics in the developing world. In recent years, Johnson & Johnson has extended its partnership with AmeriCares to include donations of LifeScan glucose meters and test strips and DePuy surgical instruments and orthopedic devices to health care facilities in parts of the world where access to these critical products is limited. The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies also supports other innovative AmeriCares programs, including emergency preparedness training in El Salvador and a fistula surgery program in Tanzania, where products from the company's consumer, pharmaceutical and medical devices businesses are used.

"HDMA members and AmeriCares share the goal of delivering lifesaving medications to the people who need them every day," said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. "Through the support and leadership of HDMA member companies like Johnson & Johnson, the patients who need it most continue to have access to the right care at the right time. We are proud of our continuing partnership with AmeriCares."

About AmeriCares
AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid to 147 countries. For more information, log onto www.AmeriCares.org.

About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time"¦inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 114,000 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world. Through our philanthropy, Johnson & Johnson focuses on making life-changing, long-term differences in human health by targeting the world's major health-related issues.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link in the healthcare system. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that more than nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are safely delivered to more than 165,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and contain costs, saving the nation's healthcare system an estimated $32 billion per year. For more information, visit www.HealthcareDistribution.org.

AmeriCares

AmeriCares

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $10 billion in humanitarian aid to 147 countries. For more information, visit www.AmeriCares.org.

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