A Medical Device Daily

Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, California) reported that the Edwards Lifesciences Fund is awarding as part of its fourth annual grant cycle more than $1.8 million to 81 nonprofit organizations.

Including these grants, the company expects the fund to award roughly $2.3 million by the end of this year, bringing the total grants awarded from the fund since its inception in 2005 to more than $7 million.

"We are proud to extend significantly the reach of the Edwards Lifesciences Fund by increasing the number of organizations supported through our annual grant cycle by approximately 45%," said Edwards Chairman/CEO Michael Mussallem. "Through the fund, we are assisting organizations that strengthen our communities and helping a greater number of patients in their fight against cardiovascular disease. During the last four years, the fund has supported more than 150 charitable organizations, whose impact is felt in both local neighborhoods and also communities all around the world."

Gifts from the fund are categorized as either strategic or community grants. Strategic grants support programs or projects that expand awareness of cardiovascular disease, its prevention and treatment or enhance support and access to care for underserved cardiovascular patients.

Community grants support programs or projects that provide involvement opportunities for Edwards employees, help strengthen the community and improve the quality of life.

During the 2008 grant cycle, the fund awarded more than $1.5 million in strategic grants. The fund also awarded more than $300,000 in community grants during the 2008 grant cycle, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000.