Medtronic Foundation Commits $16M in Health and Education Partnerships to Address Racial Disparities and Advance Social Justice in Black Communities

• Medtronic Foundation Commits to First-of-Its-Kind National Partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and to Minneapolis with Support of the Northside Achievement Zone, People’s Center Clinics & Services, Among Others
• Medtronic Plans Day of Action for Racial Equity Progress to Help the More than 90,000 Medtronic Employees Globally Learn More About Advancing Racial Equity

MINNEAPOLIS, July 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Medtronic Foundation today announced a $16 million commitment to partnerships with organizations working to bring about social justice and equity, improve the lives of Black Americans, and help heal and advance the broader community, specifically to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Northside Achievement Zone, and the People’s Center Clinics & Services, among others.

These partnerships are a unique combination of strategic financial support paired with Medtronic employee volunteerism. They aim to deliver meaningful impact through deep engagement, greater understanding of racial inequities, improved educational opportunities and fewer health disparities, which have been precipitated by historical racial inequities and intensified by COVID-19.

“As a global healthcare leader, our Mission calls us to maintain good global citizenship as a company,” said Geoff Martha, Medtronic chief executive officer. “Today, it’s critical that we actively promote social justice and racial equity progress to address inequities and health disparities in our communities. The Medtronic Foundation’s commitments come as an extension of the Medtronic journey to consistently improve and advance these efforts.” 

Long-term Partnerships for Social Change 
As part of its commitment, the Medtronic Foundation is entering into three long-term, multi-year core partnerships at local and national levels:

1. Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF): This first-of-its-kind national partnership between the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and a medical technology corporate foundation will emphasize scholarships for low-income students studying engineering, biomedical, and business at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. The partnership also includes opportunities for students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at HBCUs to learn more about medical technology.
2. Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ): This local partnership will strengthen communities in North Minneapolis by helping impoverished families upgrade skills, increase household income, and support their children through high school and college. Medtronic employees will have year-round opportunities to volunteer their skills and support NAZ families to improve education disparities in Minneapolis.
3. People’s Center Clinics & Services: This health partnership builds the capacity of community-based frontline health workers and local healthcare teams, enabling them to reduce health disparities, improve diabetes and hypertension management, and provide COVID-19 education and support, resulting in better health outcomes among the East African and African American populations. Medtronic volunteers will provide their skills and support to help establish COVID-19 testing centers in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Immediate Response to Racial Injustice: Community Investments