At Food For Free, we believe that collaboration can spark incredible change, and our partnership with Biogen is a shining example of what can be achieved when organizations with aligned missions come together. We are thrilled to announce that on September 5th, our collaboration with Biogen was honored with a 2024 Corporate Citizenship Community Collaborator Award at the Boston Business Journal’s 19th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards event. This recognition celebrates not just the work we’ve done, but the lasting impact we’ve created together in our shared fight against food insecurity in Greater Boston.
A Partnership Rooted in Innovation and Shared Values
For over 15 years, Biogen, the Biogen Foundation, and Food For Free have partnered to address food insecurity in our community. What makes this partnership truly special is our deep alignment in values. Biogen has contributed more than $510,000 in financial support, but their involvement goes far beyond dollars donated. They have generously donated kitchen space in their offices in Kendall Square, dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to preparing meals and filling grocery boxes, and provided invaluable leadership on our Board of Directors. Their commitment to our cause has been unwavering, and their willingness to roll up their sleeves and work alongside us speaks volumes.
In the spirit of innovative collaboration, Biogen has been a steadfast supporter of our Heat-n-Eats program since its inception in 2014. This program takes surplus prepared food from corporate, university, and hospital dining services and transforms it into nutritious, single-serving meals for students facing food insecurity. Biogen immediately recognized the potential of this program to reduce the large gap between perfectly good food going to waste and many people experiencing food insecurity. Not only did they provide the kitchen space we needed to run Heat-n-Eats, but they also continue to offer support through grants, regular employee volunteer efforts, and donations of surplus food.
By donating leftover food from their cafeterias, Biogen has helped prevent an estimated 3,000 pounds of food waste over the past two years, directly contributing to the reduction of their carbon footprint. Their employees have also volunteered regularly, repurposing and packaging rescued food right in their own workspace. This hands-on involvement not only makes a tangible difference but also fosters a culture of giving and engagement within their organization.
Biogen’s Commitment to Community and Health Equity
Biogen’s dedication to our mission extends well beyond the Heat-n-Eats program. Through the Biogen Foundation, they have made significant financial contributions, ensuring that their support is both impactful and strategic. Biogen was one of the first to back our Just Eats program, which was launched in response to the increased need during the pandemic and now provides 1,000 grocery boxes and up to 27,500 pounds of bulk produce and shelf-stable foods each week to food pantries, low-income housing sites, and community programs. Their proactive approach and thoughtful engagement have been crucial in helping us scale our efforts in response to the increased need in the community.
Biogen has also named Food For Free as the company’s charity partner for corporate events, including a company art auction that raised $45,000 last year, and promotes a culture of philanthropy with matching employee gifts. A Biogen employee band, Bad Elements, even competed on behalf of Food For Free at the Battle of the Biotech Bands, resulting in a $40,000 donation from The Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston in 2023 to Food For Free.
What truly sets Biogen apart is their holistic approach to advancing better health. Their partnership with Food For Free is just one facet of their broader commitment to health equity. Biogen understands that equitable, reliable access to nutritious food is the bedrock of community health and as such, it is an important component of how Biogen works beyond its medicines to help people live healthier, fuller lives.
A Partnership Based on Continued Action
As we celebrate this well-deserved recognition, we are also excited about the future of our partnership with Biogen. This September, during Hunger Action Month, Biogen employees once again joined us on the front lines of our mission. Over the course of September 19-20, they participated in three volunteer shifts as part of their Caring Deeply program, packaging meals and packing grocery boxes with nutritious food to help those who need it most. And this fall, the Biogen Foundation provided a new grant to help support culturally appropriate food purchases for Just Eats and other Food For Free programs, allowing us to better meet the needs of our partners and the clients they serve.
These commitments are yet more examples of how Biogen’s corporate values are put into action, making a real and lasting impact in the community.
We are incredibly grateful for Biogen’s support and for the many ways they have partnered with us to fight hunger and reduce food waste. Together, we have achieved so much, and we look forward to continuing this journey, creating even more opportunities for positive change.
Join Us in the Fight Against Hunger
If your company is looking to make a difference in the community while also minimizing food waste, we invite you to partner with us. Together, we can create a brighter, more food-secure future for all. [Click here for more information.]