Astellas Employees Scrap Spreadsheets for Chicago Youth

Chicago — Fifty-five members of the finance department at Astellas US are setting numbers and budgets aside today to roll up their sleeves and dig into a variety of service projects that will make the environment brighter and cheerier for over 800 Chicago area school children this summer. 

Stephen Knowles, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Northbrook-based Astellas, is leading the day's activities from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Metro Achievement Center for girls in the West Loop and Midtown Center for boys in Bucktown. His team will be gardening, painting and generally sprucing up the two centers as they prepare to welcome students in mid-June for a seven-week summer enrichment program that combines academics with sports and character education classes with other extra-curricular activities for kids ages eight to eighteen. 

"We're pleased to partner with Midtown and Metro on this very special volunteer service day in recognition of their decades-long commitment to the educational advancement of Chicago's urban youth," said Knowles. 

Glenn Wilke, Executive Director of Midtown Educational Foundation, which funds and manages both centers, expressed sincere appreciation to Astellas for committing the resources of its entire finance department, to improving the look and feel of its facilities. "Metro and Midtown offer a safe, clean and nurturing environment for kids coming from tough city neighborhoods and low-income households," he said. "Their efforts will help put broad smiles on hundreds of faces this summer." 

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About Midtown Educational Foundation 

Midtown Educational Foundation, through its Midtown Center for boys and Metro Achievement Center for girls, is dedicated to closing the achievement gap for Chicago's urban youth. Founded in 1965, it integrates academics with virtues and individual attention with parental involvement to develop students of strong character with a desire for academic excellence, a college education, and service to others. (www.midtown-metro.org) 

About Astellas US

Astellas US, located in Northbrook, Illinois, serves as the headquarters for the Americas and employs nearly 3,000 people. In addition to staging a global, annual Changing Tomorrow Day, Astellas provides up to five days paid time off to full-time employees to provide volunteer support to charitable organizations. (www.astellas.us)