International Award Honors the Philanthropic Power of Patients; At Least 10 Honorees Will Each Receive a $20,000 Grant Donated to an Eligible Charity Organization of Their Choice
DUBLIN - July 15, 2016 - The Medtronic Foundation is seeking applications for the 2016 Bakken Invitation Award - an international program honoring and connecting people who have overcome health challenges with the help of medical technology and are selflessly giving back to populations and communities in need.
Currently in its fourth year, the Bakken Invitation Award annually honors at least 10 inspirational people from around the world who use their “extra life” - gained through the help of medical technology - to serve others. Selected honorees are invited to nominate a charity organization of their choice to receive a $20,000 grant from the Medtronic Foundation. They also are invited to attend a multi-day program event in Hawaii with Earl Bakken, Medtronic co-founder and director emeritus.
“After I received my first pacemaker, I realized that I had indeed been given the gift of extra time,” said Bakken. “I want to ask everyone who is in a similar situation, ‘what will you do with your extra life?’” Bakken’s dream is “to inspire millions of people to use their ‘extra life’ to make a positive difference in the world.”
To qualify for the Bakken Invitation Award, applicants must be 14 years of age or older and benefit from medical technology to treat a disease within the following categories:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic pain or spinal disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Gastroenterological disorders
- Urological disorders
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Cancer
All applicants with eligible medical technology, regardless of device manufacturer, can apply or be nominated. Applicants must have an established relationship of involvement with a legal nonprofit organization for six months or more.
Applications for the 2016 award will be accepted until August 10, 2016. To apply or nominate someone for this honor, visit www.LiveOnGiveOn.org. A selection committee will review all nominations, and applicants will be notified in October.
The Bakken Invitation Award was given to 10 honorees in 2013, 10 honorees in 2014 and 12 honorees in 2015. Honorees have used their “extra life” to support communities all over the world, including: educating students in East Africa, supporting a heart hospital in Nepal, helping the homeless in Minnesota (USA), establishing a foster care organization in Spain-- while advocating for patients’ needs, and also sharing their experiences as patients at global health conferences and through their personal blogs. See their stories and more at www.LiveOnGiveOn.org. You also can follow the program and stay inspired with real-time updates on Facebook.com/LiveOnGiveOn and on Twitter with the hashtag #LiveOnGiveOn.
About Medtronic and Medtronic Foundation
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. The Medtronic Foundation focuses on supporting health and health access initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give.
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Contacts:
Jennifer Gregoire
Public Relations
+1-612-345-0378
