/PRNewswire/ - Today, approximately 500 employees at Astellas Pharma US, Inc. ("Astellas") are taking a break from their daily routine to pack food at local pantries, paint murals in under-resourced schools, engage kids in healthy living activities and landscape public gardens in the Chicagoland area through a partnership with Chicago Cares. These efforts are part of the first annual "Changing Tomorrow Day," a global volunteer initiative that empowers Astellas employees to make a difference in their local communities.

Through the "Changing Tomorrow Day" initiative, Astellas employees throughout North and South America ("Americas"), and around the world, will commit an entire day to community service during the months of September and October. In the Americas alone, more than 1,300 employees are expected to participate in the event.

"Astellas is proud to bring together our workforce within the Americas to help give back to our local communities," said Seigo Kashii, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma US, Inc. "Volunteerism has the power to bring about change and is an important part of the culture at Astellas. We are not only dedicated to making a difference today through this annual effort, but everyday as part of our ongoing commitment to changing tomorrow for patients and our communities."

"Chicago Cares is proud to be a partner of Astellas' for the first annual 'Changing Tomorrow Day,'" said Katie Stearns, Associate Executive Director of External Affairs for Chicago Cares. "Through this remarkable event, Astellas and their employee volunteers are demonstrating their deep commitment to meeting critical community needs."

As part of this initiative, Astellas' affiliates and field-based employees throughout the Americas will be making a difference in their local communities in a variety of ways:

• U.S. field-based employees will be constructing greeting cards and bird feeder kits to distribute to local charities and volunteering at organizations in their local communities


• In California, employees will be picking up trash and recyclables at a local beach and stocking food and clothing bank shelves and preparing meals at a local homeless shelter


• In North Carolina, employees will work at their local Ronald McDonald House to help with yard work and to lead a special family activity for residents


• In Oklahoma, employees will be working at a local agency to provide therapeutic services to sexually abused children and their non-offending caregivers


• In Canada, employees will be volunteering at a local nursing home facility and helping restore an ecologically sensitive urban area


• In Brazil, employees will be painting a toy library and installing computers at a children's cancer treatment center. Brazilian field-based employees will be building and donating toys to the children

Astellas is committed to being a company that is known for its corporate citizenship. Volunteerism is entrenched in the Astellas culture and the company has created the StarGIVING program to help employees increase the impact of their own charitable giving. In fact, each full-time Astellas Pharma US, Inc. employee is given up to five days paid time off to provide volunteer support to charitable organizations. In order to increase the impact of employee charitable contributions, Astellas also matches, dollar for dollar, employee contributions made to American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Starlight Children's Foundation.

About Astellas

The Astellas culture and brand is committed to building community, helping others, encouraging integrity and inspiring people to make a difference, today, tomorrow and every day.

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. In the United States, Astellas markets products in the areas of Anti-Infectives, Cardiology, Dermatology, Neuroscience, Transplant, and Urology. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our website at www.astellas.us or follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AstellasUS.

About Chicago Cares

Chicago Cares is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for individuals and businesses to improve the Chicago community through participation in creative, structured group volunteer programs designed to address Chicago's most pressing needs. Chicago Cares develops 215 original group volunteer projects each month serving children, adults and seniors in need, as well as the environment. Our innovative format gives people the opportunity to work on projects on a flexible basis and has attracted thousands of active volunteers. Chicago Cares is an affiliate of HandsOn Network. For more information, please visit our website at www.chicagocares.org or follow Chicago Cares on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ChicagoCares.

Astellas

Astellas

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products.

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