Bayer HealthCare Awards Grant to Support Future Leaders of Bleeding Disorders Community

Bayer HealthCare Awards Grant to Support Future Leaders of Bleeding Disorders Community



$100,000 donation made to National Hemophilia Foundation Youth Leadership Institute



Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008



Bayer HealthCare (http://www. bayerhealthcare. com) today announced its donation of a $100,000 grant to help the National Hemophilia Foundation (http://www. hemophilia. org) (NHF) fund activities for its National Youth Leadership Institute (http://www. hemophilia. org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF. aspx? menuid=318&contentid=988&rptname=nyli) (NYLI), a program designed to develop the next generation of leaders within the bleeding disorders community. The contribution, made by the Bayer USA Foundation (http://www. bayerus. com/foundation/), marks the second year of support for this important program.



Each year NYLI selects 20 - 30 ambitious young leaders to participate in two weekend training sessions, focused on leadership development and problem-solving skills. The participants are then challenged to apply their training to enhance educational programming in communities across the country. The Institute features an experiential curriculum, including prevention programs and activities that participants can implement in their respective communities. The program has a reputation within the bleeding disorders community as being one of the most strategically important initiatives currently underway.



"We're grateful to have such generous support from a community partner like Bayer HealthCare," said Howard A. Balsam (http://www. hemophilia. org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF. aspx? menuid=48&contentid=30), Interim CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation. "This contribution will be instrumental in supporting the NYLI's mission to develop the next generation of leaders for the bleeding disorders community and will also empower and equip our young adults to lead improvements in educational programming across the country."



In addition to the training provided to participants, NHF encourages local chapters to provide a liaison/mentor to the young participants to further ensure the success of local youth initiatives.



"Bayer is committed to supporting programs that focus on encouraging and developing young adults to become active leaders in the bleeding disorders community," said Terry Tenbrunsel, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bayer HealthCare. "We are always happy to support the NHF - and especially this important program - as we drive toward our common goal of improving the lives of people living with hemophilia."



Media Contact:

Kimberly Wix

Bayer HealthCare

Tel: (973) 305-5258

E-mail: kimberly. wix@bayer. com



About Hemophilia A

Hemophilia A, also known as factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is largely an inherited bleeding disorder in which one of the proteins needed to form blood clots in the body is missing or reduced. Hemophilia A, the most common type of hemophilia, is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII. Hemophilia A is characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. Approximately one in 5,000 males born in the United States has hemophilia.



About the National Hemophilia Foundation

The National Hemophilia Foundation is dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for bleeding and clotting disorders and to preventing the complications of these disorders through education, advocacy and research.



About Bayer HealthCare LLC

Bayer HealthCare LLC is an affiliate of Bayer HealthCare AG, one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The Pharmaceuticals division comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, Specialized Therapeutics, Hematology/Cardiology, Primary Care, and Oncology. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.



Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development, or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.



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