Life Science Cares Boston convened more than 550 leaders, employees, and partners from across the life sciences industry on April 13 for its annual Impact Breakfast, its largest and most impactful gathering to date, raising over $1 million to fight poverty and launching a call to action for the next decade.
Held at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, the event marked the beginning of the organization’s 10-year anniversary year and underscored both the growing momentum of a movement rooted in industry-wide participation and the urgent need to expand its impact across Boston communities.
More than $1 million was raised through the support of over 75 sponsors and hundreds of individual attendees, reflecting the strength of the life sciences community. Contributions ranged from $25 to $100,000, underscoring that this milestone was driven not by a few, but by broad participation across the ecosystem.
Takeda served as Presenting Sponsor, with J.P. Morgan and WilmerHale as Innovation Sponsors, alongside dozens of companies committed to advancing the organization’s mission.
“The energy in the room was extraordinary,” said Rosie Cunningham, Executive Director of Life Science Cares Boston. “This community showed up ready not just to listen but to act. That’s what drives real change.”
The program featured two panels focused on urgency and opportunity.
The first brought together industry leaders and nonprofit partners including Yvonne Hao, COO and General Partner at Flagship Pioneering, and René Russo, PharmD, President and CEO of Xilio Therapeutics, alongside Patricia Spence, President & CEO of Urban Farming Institute, and Annie Weinberg, Founder & Executive Director of Alexander Twilight Academy. Together, they addressed the realities facing families across Boston and delivered a clear message: the time is now to do more to support local communities.
Weinberg underscored the importance of access to opportunity, particularly in Massachusetts, which ranks 46th in economic mobility, and why it is critical for young people to be “in the room where it happens.”
The second panel brought that message to life, featuring four students from Alexander Twilight Academy, ages 11 to 17, who shared their aspirations from becoming an urban engineer and lawyer to an author and future president, a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.
The event also honored HEALTHY WALTHAM and Maria DiMaggio with the Community Changemaker Award and celebrated more than ten leaders whose contributions have shaped Life Science Cares Boston’s first decade.
“Ten years ago, this work began with a belief that the life sciences industry could work together to do more,” said Sarah McDonald, CEO of Life Science Cares. “Today, that belief has become a movement powered by collective action, and this is our opportunity to expand that impact and meet the urgency facing communities today.”
The Impact Breakfast kicks off a milestone year leading up to the organization’s 10-year celebration this November. Upcoming opportunities include Mini Golf for Good, the Falmouth Road Race, and leadership initiatives such as the Council of Champions.
“We’ve proven what’s possible,” Cunningham added. “Now we go deeper expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and shaping what the next decade looks like together.”
To learn more or get involved, visit: https://lifesciencecares.org/about/contact/
About Life Science Cares
Life Science Cares is a collective effort of the life sciences industry to eliminate poverty by investing in nonprofits and engaging employees in meaningful volunteer work. Founded in Boston, the organization continues to lead nationally while remaining deeply rooted in the community it serves.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260416857977/en/
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