Now very much established as a global AbbVie tradition, the annual Week of Possibilities, founded in 2014, sees employees around the world come together to give back to local communities. AbbVie employees have expanded their commitment each year, giving 17,000 volunteer hours in 45 countries in 2015; 26,000 hours in 51 countries in 2016; and 33,000 hours in 57 countries in 2017.
This year, about 8,000 AbbVie employees in more than 50 countries volunteered 36,000 hours assisting their local communities during the week, which took place at the end of June.
"AbbVie understands that addressing the world's health challenges requires a comprehensive and responsible approach," says Todd Manning, general manager, AbbVie. "That's why AbbVie is committed to going beyond medicine, not just developing innovative therapies, but also playing a wider role in improving healthcare outcomes and local communities. In partnership with not-for-profit groups, AbbVie works to address challenges facing the underserved, particularly in education, through charitable giving as well as employee engagement. AbbVie employees demonstrate their deep commitment to giving back to their communities through the company's volunteering programmes."
The company has joined forces with the national volunteer development agency, Volunteer Ireland. Together, they have planned and implemented Week of Possibilities projects in three communities in Cork, Sligo and Dublin – locations where the company has a major presence.
Employees from AbbVie’s manufacturing plant in Cork helped upgrade facilities at nearby St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, Cork. Their volunteer efforts included the cleaning and painting of the school gym; painting and resurfacing work in the school gardens and the redecoration of a dedicated common room and project space, which is used by the school’s transition year students.
“We feel so fortunate to have had AbbVie visit us as part of their Week of Possibilities project”, says St Aloysius College principal Seán Twomey. “The addition of an innovation space will be fantastic for our students, somewhere St Al’s girls can come together and collaborate to work on projects such as the Young Scientist Competition and Young Social Innovators. We see this as a space that we can bring together science, technology and creativity, a part of our school that allows our students not to be confined by a curriculum but only by the limits of their imagination. I honestly can’t thank AbbVie enough. When I heard they were willing to help re-paint and renovate our gym I thought we had won the good luck lottery – it hasn’t been given a facelift in over 30 years!”
Mairead Dunne, site director, AbbVie Cork adds: "The Week of Possibilities reflects AbbVie's commitment to transforming education for communities in need. AbbVie employees volunteer their time, talent and efforts to help improve their local communities to do what they can to support and improve the educational resources available locally."
Refurbishment of autism unit
Employees from AbbVie's offices in Citywest and Santry completed an extensive refurbishment of the autism unit facilities at Greenhills College in Walkinstown. A significant number of the students enrolled at the boys-only secondary school have autism needs and attend Greenhills College to avail of the school's autism resource unit. Volunteers worked alongside staff to upgrade the unit's sensory room, library and kitchen to benefit the students with autism who attend the school.
"We would like to thank AbbVie and Volunteer Ireland for choosing Greenhills College for their Week of Possibilities", says Greenhills College principal Ann Bray. "Through this initiative we will see our autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) unit, sensory room, breakfast and lunchtime space and school library transformed. The work carried out during the week will have a huge impact on the whole school community. Our students will now have a long-awaited relaxation space and state-of-the-art library facilities in surroundings which will encourage improved literacy and numeracy. Without the support of AbbVie, we would never have achieved this goal so soon."
In Sligo, AbbVie employees from the company’s medical devices centre in Ballytivnan and from the pharmaceutical plant on the Manorhamilton Road contributed more than 1,000 hours to the refurbishment of St Edward’s National School in Ballytivnan. It is close to both AbbVie sites in Sligo and the aim is to help modernise and improve the overall look of the school.
“The Week of Possibilities demonstrates our sincere commitment to giving back to our communities and people in need. These volunteer opportunities are critically important to who we are as a company and the fabric of our culture,” Todd Manning concludes.