Hospira Foundation Announces Launch of (Mission: Care)2 Grant Challenge in Honor of 10th Anniversary

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hospira Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., today announced the launch of (Mission: Care)², the 2014 Hospira Foundation Grant Challenge. In honor of the Foundation's 10^th Anniversary, this application-based grant program will award 10 charitable organizations with grants of $10,000 each. Additionally, in the second phase of the challenge, the 10 grant recipients will be invited to participate in a video contest – voted on by the public – for the opportunity for one organization to receive an additional $100,000 grant to amplify the impact of its program.

"For 10 years, we've been dedicated to improving health and wellness in the communities Hospira touches," said Stacey T. Eisen, president, Hospira Foundation. "In celebration of the Foundation's milestone anniversary, we're excited to launch a new campaign, (Mission: Care)², to expand our support of organizations that are actively working to make a difference in the Foundation's key focus areas of oncology and access to affordable healthcare services."

To apply for (Mission: Care)², organizations must be approved by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public charity and complete the program application found at Hospira.com/MissionCare2. All applicants must meet the (Mission: Care)² program guidelines as well as the eligibility criteria and restrictions set forth in the existing Hospira Foundation Giving Guidelines. Eligible programs must touch multiple communities with a national, regional or multi-state impact, and align with one of the Hospira Foundation's focus areas, either advancing oncology education and wellness programs or improving access to affordable healthcare services. Applications will be accepted through October 24. Complete program eligibility requirements and the official rules can be found online at Hospira.com/MissionCare2.

About The Hospira Foundation

Established in 2004, the Hospira Foundation is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation focused on improving health and wellness in the communities Hospira touches. The philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., the Hospira Foundation provides grants to charities whose missions and programs support the focus areas of advancing oncology education and wellness programs, and/or improving access to affordable healthcare services. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated approximately $10 million to support communities across the globe.

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SOURCE The Hospira Foundation