Boehringer Cares: 25 Years of Community Impact

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation works with nonprofit partners to tackle unmet needs in human and animal health while expanding access to STEM education. Over 25 years, its philanthropic model has evolved from direct financial and product support toward long-term collaborations designed to strengthen communities and create lasting impact.

Established in 2001, the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation (Boehringer Cares) was created to support causes that matter to the communities where Boehringer Ingelheim operates. From the beginning, its goal has been to use philanthropy to generate meaningful, measurable results.

Over the past quarter-century, Boehringer Cares has learned that while charitable donations and in-kind contributions can address immediate needs, sustainable progress often requires deeper collaboration. Nonprofit organizations working directly within communities have valuable insight into the systems and circumstances that influence health and well-being. As a result, Boehringer Cares increasingly focuses on partnerships that strengthen local capacity, resilience and long-term solutions.

This philosophy shapes the Foundation's work across its priority areas, directing funding, expertise and partnerships toward issues where they can make the greatest difference.

Mobilizing employees

Employees throughout Boehringer Ingelheim play an important role in advancing the Foundation's mission. They contribute their time through volunteering, provide financial support and participate in employee matching-gift programs.

For community organizations, however, meaningful collaboration involves more than receiving financial assistance. They increasingly look for partners willing to listen, share expertise and work alongside them to strengthen their organizations and communities. At the same time, expectations are growing for companies to demonstrate tangible and measurable social impact.

Kristin Segrue, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, describes the organization's “Leading with Care” philosophy as an approach centered on empowering people to create meaningful change. Boehringer employees put that philosophy into practice as volunteers, donors, mentors and advocates, working together to help communities become stronger and more resilient.

“Our programs aim to support people, animals, and communities by bringing together expertise and resources to address unmet community needs.”

— Kristin Segrue, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility and Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation

Expanding access to healthcare

The “Leading with Care” philosophy is reflected in Boehringer Cares' efforts to develop partnerships that improve healthcare access in communities where the need is greatest. Americares, a nonprofit focused on providing health assistance during disasters and in everyday circumstances, has been a longstanding partner.

The relationship began in 2005 with a mobile clinic serving uninsured adults in Greater Danbury, Connecticut. In 2009, the initiative evolved into the Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free Clinic of Danbury, providing high-quality medical care at no cost. Boehringer Cares expanded the partnership further in 2016 by introducing a health coaching program, which has since grown to serve several clinics throughout Connecticut.

In 2025, the partnership helped 635 patients receive medical care, while 11,800 people gained access to donated Boehringer Ingelheim medicines free of charge.

Supporting disaster preparedness and recovery

Boehringer Cares applies the same commitment to collaboration and community resilience to disaster preparedness and recovery. Working with organizations including Greater Good Charities, Direct Relief, World Central Kitchen and Americares, the Foundation supports communities before, during and after emergencies.

Its approach includes strategically positioning medicines and essential supplies ahead of disasters, enabling rapid assistance when emergencies strike and continuing to support communities during the recovery and rebuilding phases.

The response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 illustrates this model. More than USD 2 million worth of products were distributed, benefiting more than 8,000 people and animals.

Employee generosity also extends the reach of these efforts. Through matching-gift programs, eligible employee donations can be matched at a ratio of up to 2:1, potentially doubling the contribution made to qualifying organizations.

Since 2023, products valued at more than USD 500 million have reached tens of thousands of people and animals, including communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

Creating opportunities in STEM education

Students in under-resourced schools frequently face limited access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. They may have fewer opportunities for hands-on learning, limited exposure to STEM professionals and fewer connections to potential careers in these fields.

Boehringer Cares seeks to address these disparities by helping young people develop the skills, confidence and experiences needed to become tomorrow's scientists, innovators and community leaders.

Since 2009, Boehringer Ingelheim employees have volunteered as mentors through the Connecticut Invention Convention, an educational nonprofit that provides innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities to more than 12,000 students each year.

The Foundation also launched STEM Day in 2024 and continued the initiative in 2025. The program gives high school students opportunities to attend informational sessions, interact with Boehringer employees, participate in practical activities and tour company facilities.

By combining education with mentorship and firsthand exposure to professional environments, Boehringer Cares helps students envision themselves pursuing careers in healthcare, science and innovation.

Advancing animal health through veterinary well-being

Animal health is another important focus for Boehringer Cares. Veterinary professionals face growing pressures, including burnout, workforce shortages and limited access to veterinary services in underserved communities.

In response, the Foundation committed more than USD 2.5 million in 2025 to partnerships with organizations such as Not One More Vet, National Agriculture in the Classroom, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Foundation, the Farm Journal Foundation and the University of Georgia.

These collaborations support veterinary professionals, encourage students to consider careers in veterinary medicine and help extend animal healthcare services to rural and urban communities. Together, the initiatives address workforce and access challenges while helping ensure that veterinary medicine remains equipped to meet future demands.

As part of these efforts, students from the Universidad de Puerto Rico receive practical veterinary experience while contributing to efforts that expand access to animal care in underserved areas.

Why “Lead with Care”?

Twenty-five years of experience have reinforced a central lesson for Boehringer Cares: meaningful change often begins where existing systems leave gaps—where people are underserved, communities lack resources and important needs remain unaddressed.

The Foundation seeks to identify those gaps and work with others to address them. By combining the expertise and resources of nonprofit partners, employees and communities, Boehringer Cares aims to develop solutions that extend beyond short-term assistance.

Its “Leading with Care” philosophy is ultimately about making sustained commitments to the people, animals and communities it serves. Through long-term partnerships and collaborative action, the Foundation seeks to help create communities that are healthier, stronger and better prepared for the challenges ahead.

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