Building on its foundation of fighting breast cancer, Royal Philips Electronics has announced a multi-year, global commitment to support Breast Cancer Awareness across all sectors of its business.

The campaign aims to raise awareness, support research and inspire and educate women through a range of activities within and outside the organisation, such as expert Q&A sessions and inspiring illuminations.

Continue lighting up the world
For years Philips Lighting has been supporting the cause by using the power and versatility of coloured LED light to illuminate global landmarks, highlighting the importance of early breast cancer detection.

This year, throughout the month of October, Philips will again draw on its expertise to light landmarks around the world, and in addition will enable its employees to publicly support the campaign by submitting personal inspirational messages, which will be displayed on the building of Philips’ HQ in Amsterdam on October 18th.

Personal messages of support
Karen Tobiasen, Chief HR Officer Philips Lighting, said: “Within Philips Lighting, we have fantastic expertise that can help the fight against breast cancer by raising awareness of the importance of early detection. We are delighted to continue the global illuminations we have done in previous years, and extend these efforts by actively involving our more than hundred twenty thousand employees.”
 
Caroline Clarke, CEO Philips Consumer Lifestyle Personal Care, adds: “Philips is a company devoted to health and well-being, developing meaningful initiatives around the needs of consumers around the world, many of whom are women. This makes our support for breast cancer awareness such a great fit for the business and we’re delighted to be building on our support from previous years, to reach our employees, consumers and customers alike with the important message of early detection.”

The company will also harness its expertise in Philips Healthcare, which develops technology that enables detection and treatment of breast cancer, to help raise awareness of the cause and help facilitate education about breast cancer.

Helping beyond technology
Philips Healthcare CEO Deborah DiSanzo said, “We are pleased to offer this awareness programme, which builds upon Philips’ outreach and advocacy work such as the innovative National Digital Mammography Programme with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in which we are bringing the benefits of mammography to thousands of women, and creating a database of mammography images that will help us continue to innovate and save lives in the future.”

Inside-out approach
Philips’ first stage of its multi-year campaign focuses on engagement of its own employees all over the world. The company will inspire and facilitate employees to donate money to renowned breast cancer research institutes across the globe and subsequently multiply the collective contribution.

In addition, Philips will facilitate (mammography) testing for employees where appropriate and possible, and set up Q&A sessions with a medical expert for anyone within the company who may have questions about breast cancer awareness, detection or treatment.

Carole Wainaina, Chief HR Officer, said: “As a company, we take the well-being of our employees very seriously so I am delighted to be one of the sponsors in this new phase of the Philips Breast Cancer Awareness campaign that aims to inspire and support our employees. As we grow the campaign over time, Philips will continue to listen to its employees and consumers across the globe to ensure that they are effectively and continually engaged in this important topic.”