Medtronic puts up $2m for Minn. health initiative, another $2m to Smithsonian

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today it donated $2 million towards a collaborative partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, and another $2 million to the Smithsonian Museums.

Through its MDH joined HealthRise U.S. program, funds will go to Pillsbury United Communities, Regions Hospital Foundation and the HealthFinders Collaborative in Minnesota, which will implement the HealthRise programs in the state.

“We are thrilled to be supporting three organizations that provide critical health-related services for the underserved populations in Minnesota’s local communities. We expect that, together with our partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, our HealthRise program will succeed to strengthen community-level efforts to reduce the disproportionate impact of chronic disease amongst our underserved neighbors. Success here can help us do the same around the world,” Medtronic Philanthropy veep Jacob Gayle said in a press release.

The partnership is part of a larger MDH initiative looking to reduce health disparities for heart disease and diabetes, the company said.

“Minnesota is among the healthiest states on average, but that average hides significant health disparities for some demographic groups. These disparities negatively impact our communities and our economy in many ways, and we need to address them if we want to achieve our full health potential. We are excited at the opportunity to work with Medtronic to deal with this significant public health issue,” Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Edward Ehlinger said in prepared remarks.

In an additional donation, Medtronic said it is giving $2 million to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The museum is the Smithsonian’s 19th and will be the only national museum dedicated to documenting African American life, the company said.

“This museum will surely be a great national institution and asset – one that will give us all better insight on how the dreams, relentless tenacity and contributions of American people of African descent have helped shape this great country, and thereby, the world. It is with tremendous pleasure that we as a company are able to contribute to this project, which will bring the story of African American contributions to national and global progress for generations to come,” Gayle said in a prepared statement.

The museum, currently under construction in Washington D.C.’s National Mall, is scheduled to open in 2016.

“As we draw closer to the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the museum is grateful to have the support of Medtronic Philanthropy. Medtronic’s generous contribution helps ensure that we succeed in helping millions of visitors see and understand America’s history through an African American lens,” Founding Director Lonnie Bunch III said in a press release.

The post Medtronic puts up $2m for Minn. health initiative, another $2m to Smithsonian appeared first on MassDevice.

from MassDevice http://ift.tt/1PH1sld