MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 15 Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has donated scholarships totaling more than $200,000 to nearly 250 students living with cystic fibrosis (CF) through its SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship program. Each year, 40 students receive a one-year scholarship of $2,500 to help finance post-secondary education; however, as a special recognition this year, every eligible 2009 applicant was honored with a $500 scholarship. Profiles, including essays and creative presentations, featuring the 40 scholarship recipients can be viewed online at www.SolvayCARESScholarship.com.
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"For the 17th consecutive year, we are proud to support this deserving and dynamic group of young people in pursuing dreams of higher education," said Dr. Stephen Hill, president of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Our hope is that continuing to feature these inspiring stories online will result in a heightened awareness of CF alongside a true appreciation of these talented students' achievements and creativity."
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The 40 SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship recipients were selected based on their outstanding creative entries, academic excellence, community involvement and ability to serve as positive role models for the CF community. Next month, one of the 40 SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship recipients will be selected as the "Thriving Student Achiever" through a voting process that is open to the public. The Thriving Student Achiever will be presented with a scholarship totaling $17,000 in honor of the 17th year of the SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship program.
According to Laura Braun, 2008 SolvayCARES(SM) Thriving Student Achiever recipient and student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, "While I do not let having CF define me, there are certain obstacles I face while being away from home because of CF. I am so grateful to the SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship program for helping me stay focused on my education and health."
Friends of the CF community and the general public are encouraged to log on to learn more about these students' remarkable accomplishments and vote for the student they find most inspiring. This year, votes will be tabulated online as well as via text messages and phone. Please visit www.SolvayCARESScholarship.com for full voting rules and Frequently Asked Questions. Voting will commence on September 15 and continue until October 15, at which time the Thriving Student Achiever will be determined.
Since 1993, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has donated more than $2 million dollars in scholarships to high-achieving students with CF. For more information about the SolvayCARES(SM) Scholarship program, please visit www.SolvayCARESScholarship.com.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Cystic fibrosis presents extraordinary health burdens for patients and financial challenges for their families. Thanks to tremendous advances in medical treatments, more young adults with CF are living longer, healthier lives than ever before and many more are pursuing dreams of higher education. Today, more than 40 percent of people living with CF are aged 18 or older.(1)
About SolvayCARES(SM)
For more than 20 years, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has offered a variety of resources - including nutritional, educational and financial assistance - to support those living with CF throughout each stage of life. SolvayCARES(SM) provides nutritional support with free multivitamins in softgel, chewable, and liquid formulations plus a variety of nutritional drink choices. New this year in the realm of financial support, SolvayCARES(SM) offers a co-pay reduction to eligible patients. Since 1993, the program has awarded scholarships totaling more than $2 million to outstanding young adults with CF who are pursuing higher education. Through SolvayCARES(SM), Solvay Pharmaceuticals also partners with other organizations in the battle against CF, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and has been part of its Great Strides fundraiser since the event's inception in 1989. Solvay Pharmaceuticals supports the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) as the primary sponsor of its Sacks for CF scholarship program. To learn more about the nutritional, educational and financial support available through SolvayCARES(SM), please visit www.SolvayCARES.com.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Marietta, Georgia, is the U.S. subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a research driven group of companies that constitutes the global pharmaceutical business of the Solvay Group. These companies seek to fulfill carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardiometabolic, influenza vaccines, gastroenterology and men's and women's health. Its 2008 sales were EUR 2.7 billion and it employs more than 9,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.solvaypharmaceuticals.com.
Solvay is an international Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 28,300 people in 50 countries. In 2008, its sales amounted to EUR 9.5 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (NYSE-Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on NYSE-Euronext at Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com.
References
1. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. About Cystic Fibrosis. Accessed September 2009. http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/
CONTACT: Jessica Riley Aaron Estrada Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ruder Finn (770) 578-5637 (212) 715-1568 [email protected] [email protected]
SOURCE Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
