Mölnlycke and its employees feel a strong sense of commitment to the medical profession and patients receiving treatment. The company has two global charity partners: Operation Smile and Debra – and donated EUR 70,000 in 2019 from employee fundraising, matched by the company.
Operation Smile and Debra were chosen as our two global charity partners because we share common ambitions and areas of expertise with them,’ explains Global Marketing Manager for Acute Wound Care and CSR Project Lead, Audrey Mioche. ‘Operation Smile carries out cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries for children in developing countries, while Debra is the charity for people with the devastating skin disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB). They represent two sides of our business: Surgical Solutions and Wound Care.’
Mölnlycke has partnered with Operation Smile for 15 years. In that time, we have donated funds and surgical gloves worth around USD 5 million to support the charity’s surgeries around the world. ‘People also volunteer to join Operation Smile missions’, explains Audrey. ‘Last year, four colleagues took part in a mission to India. They supported the children and their families from pre-surgery through to recovery and helped the medical teams with important administrative tasks.’
The company has worked with Debra even longer, helping to fund both research and their programmes around the world.
‘Since 1999, we have donated USD 900,000 to Debra plus more than USD 1 million worth of dressings and other products,’ says Audrey.
‘Our staff are also big supporters of their national chapters. We participate in events, share our time and expertise and contribute to fundraisers.’
At Mölnlycke, when colleagues raise funds for our global charities, the company matches them. There is also a fundraising app to keep track of everyone’s activities and donations in real time.
‘Whenever I need a lift,’ says Audrey, ‘I look through all the quirky and innovative activities that Mölnlycke individuals and teams have come up with to raise funds for our global charities. I find them incredibly inspiring, and they really build a sense
of team.’
Mölnlycke’s 2019 fundraising campaign ‘Let’s change lives together’ was a competition, with prizes for the largest team, most globally diverse team, the most successful event – and a special ‘Employee choice’ award. ‘If only everybody could win,’ says Audrey. ‘The winners will have the chance to take part in Operation Smile missions in 2020. I’m really excited for them.’
This story was first published in the Sustainability report 2019. Read the full report here.
