Zimmer Biomet (NYSE:ZBH) announced today that it launched the Zimmer Biomet Foundation with a $2 million donation to the NAACP.
Warsaw, Ind.-based Zimmer Biomet’s foundation is a philanthropic organization seeking to empower diverse and underserved communities, support STEM education, enable community health and provide disaster relief, according to a news release.
The Zimmer Biomet Foundation followed its launch with the announcement that it is partnering with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Empowerment Programs, committing $2 million over the next three years to support partnered efforts to end racial injustice and advance diversity and equality. This partnership comprises part of a broader commitment made by the orthopedic device maker to donate at least $5 million over the next five years to nonprofits focused on anti-racism efforts and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“Zimmer Biomet’s mission is to alleviate pain and improve quality of life,” Zimmer Biomet president & CEO Bryan Hanson said in the release. “Through the Zimmer Biomet Foundation, we are working to deliver on that mission by funding comprehensive programs that foster STEM education, building healthy communities, providing disaster relief and addressing the inequities and disparities that still cause suffering around the world.
“Earlier this year, we also chose to stand with the millions in the United States and abroad who have built a united front against hatred, discrimination and injustice. By partnering with the NAACP, we have a unique opportunity to put our beliefs into action and support initiatives that show the many ways that diversity and tolerance make all of us stronger.”
The partnership will include support for public health work conducted by local NAACP chapters across the country, plus funding for the establishment of the first NAACP Black Opportunity Index, which is designed as a resource for addressing healthcare disparities and expanding medical access to underserved communities.
“The Zimmer Biomet Foundation’s generous commitment furthers the NAACP’s efforts to dismantle racial injustice and discrimination – including the health disparities faced by Black Americans and other minority communities within the United States,” NAACP president & CEO Derrick Johnson said. “We believe that all people deserve equal and optimal health outcomes and access to timely, quality and affordable healthcare – regardless of their race, culture or creed. We are proud to partner with global organizations like Zimmer Biomet who share our vision of a more just and equitable world.”