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Device Manufacturers
Medtronic and Abbott Pledge Millions to Japan Relief Effort
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March 14, 2011 -- Device manufacturers Medtronic
and Abbott today pledged millions in aid to earthquake-tsunami devastated
Japan. Medtronic announced
$1 million in direct grants, employee matching grants and product donations
to support near- and long-term relief efforts. The company also stated
that its
foundation will continue to assess the needs of the people of Japan
to determine
where funding
will be allocated.
Abbott's philanthropic
arm,
the
Abbott
Fund, will
provide $3 million to the
Japanese Red Cross through the American Red Cross, and longstanding global
relief partner AmeriCares. Abbott Japan has approximately
2,400 employees devoted to distribution and marketing across all
of its businesses, with headquarters in Tokyo, Fukui and Chiba.
Both companies have close ties with Japan, as do many other U.S.
device and diagnostic companies which, according to the Advanced
Medical Technology Association, employ more than
13,000 workers in Japan.
Reported by Burt Cohen, March 14, 2011
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