AbbVie donates $100 million to Puerto Rico

AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, said it donated $100 million to two organizations, Direct Relief and Habitat for Humanity International, to strengthen access to health care and housing in Puerto Rico.

The organizations will receive $50 million each. This donation is an extension of the more than $4 million AbbVie provided following the unprecedented natural disasters of 2017.

"AbbVie has a long-standing commitment to the people of Puerto Rico, having operated on the island for nearly 50 years. Last year's hurricanes were devastating, but we are proud that - thanks to the sacrifices made by our colleagues in Puerto Rico - our operations were not disrupted and patients relying on our treatments could continue to receive them," said AbbVie Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie based in North Chicago.

Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló said, "With this important contribution today by AbbVie - with aid that goes directly to health and housing, two priorities in our administration - the company proves to be an example of what a private sector committed to the community should be. After the hurricanes passed through our region, AbbVie collaborated with us in the reconstruction of the Island. After 50 years in Puerto Rico, we are grateful that they continue to be available as a workplace for the Puerto Rican working class."

With the donation, Direct Relief will help rebuild and strengthen Puerto Rico's primary health care system, better preparing it to withstand future hurricanes and outages of power or water. Direct Relief will support more than 60 community health centers and local health care facilities over a three-year period. These facilities care for a combined 352,000 resident across Puerto Rico. To prevent interruptions in care, Direct Relief will provide the health centers with reliable energy sources including solar power, battery storage and generators, giving them the ability to produce their own clean water supplies. Direct Relief will also fund mobile health units, train and support an expanded medical workforce, increase access to a reliable supply of medicines, and institute telemedicine programs at select hospitals and health centers.