Medela Hosts Event In San Francisco

MCHENRY, Ill., April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 9, Medela invites San Francisco moms to celebrate the launch of Medela Recycles, a breastpump recycling program, at Right Start, a leading retailer of juvenile products for infants through toddlers. Moms who have finished breastfeeding are encouraged to bring their Medela breastpumps to recycle at Right Start, located at 3435 Sacramento Street, on April 9 from 5-7 p.m. Event attendees will receive 25 percent off Medela products during the event and a Right Start gift card.

The event honors local mom Jane Duong Davaransky, one of the driving forces behind the program initiation. Created in response to feedback from Medela mothers like Jane, Medela Recycles provides moms who have finished breastfeeding a way to properly recycle their personal-use breastpumps with the opportunity to positively impact the breastfeeding journeys of new mothers. All pumps recycled through the Medela Recycles program will go toward donations of brand new hospital-grade Medela Symphony® Preemie+ Breastpumps and breastfeeding supplies to the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®).

"I started the petition hoping for change, but I never expected this response," said Jane Duong Davaransky. "I was excited that Medela answered our call to action. Having had both of my children in the NICU, the connection with the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) is one that personally resonates with me and I'm thrilled to be part of this program."

The goal of the Medela Recycles program is to provide moms with the same high-quality equipment they use at the hospital during their stay at a Ronald McDonald House®. The Symphony Preemie+ Breastpumps help infants' mothers establish a milk supply to provide their own breastmilk to their premature babies. By making Symphony pumps available at Ronald McDonald Houses®, mothers have the ability to pump while resting to restore the energy needed to focus on their baby in the NICU. This consistency will ease the transition from the hospital to a Ronald McDonald House® and give families caring for a baby in the NICU one less thing to worry about.

"We launched Medela Recycles in response to the feedback from moms, but to also support mothers with infants in the NICU starting their breastfeeding journeys," explained Kim Aasen, Director of Marketing Communications and Services for Medela, Inc. "We're proud to have already recycled more than 1,200 breastpumps, and we hope more moms will contribute to this program by donating their pumps on Thursday."

Medela hopes to recycle 12,000 Medela breastpumps through this initiative to support its commitment to reducing solid waste and helping protect the environment. To help Medela reach its goal, visit www.MedelaRecycles.com. Join the conversation #MedelaRecycles on Twitter or Facebook!

About Medela
Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson and headquartered in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland, Medela is owned by the Larsson-Rosenquist Family Foundation and continues to grow under the leadership of the Larsson family. Medela concentrates on two divisions: "Breastfeeding," leading in the development and production of breastfeeding products, and "Healthcare," engineering and manufacturing highly innovative medical vacuum technology solutions. Medela conducts fundamental research together with leading scientists, medical professionals and universities, and uses the research results in the development of its products. Medela has 18 subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia, and together with independent partners distributes its products in more than 90 countries. The company employs around 1,500 staff worldwide, 330 of whom are located in the Canton of Zug.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities®
Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of 300 Chapters in more than 62 countries and regions, its three core programsthe Ronald McDonald House^®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room^® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile^®and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs provide access to quality health care and give children and families the time they need to heal and cope better together.

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SOURCE Medela