Grantee highlights
The Avantor Foundation works with a number of worthy organizations around the world. We partner with each grantee to ensure that their program aligns with our mission and offers an opportunity for Avantor associates to engage in volunteerism.
Mobilizing care for those in need
For the past 35 years, Stiftung Sozialwerk Pfarrer Sieber has been dedicated to helping people in need in Zurich, Switzerland. This organization is making a difference by providing emergency shelters, social counseling and medical care, among other services, to members of the community.
In 2024, the Avantor Foundation supported the “Sieber-Mobil,” a mobile version of their care center. This initiative is designed to reach people who live in precarious situations or are unable to visit a medical or counseling facility. The Sieber-Mobil extends Stiftung Sozialwerk Pfarrer Sieber’s services to more people in need, serving them with the care and dignity that everyone deserves. This partnership is our first in Zurich, expanding our reach to more communities in which we operate.
Program impact
- 388 people were directly reached through the program
- 80% experienced improved health as a result of the program’s interventions
- 9,670 people were reached through health awareness and education programming
- 6 Avantor associates prepared and served food to those in need in Zurich
Advancing STEM interest
In 2024, the Avantor Foundation formed a new partnership with Science Centre Singapore to support UNTAME Schools, a comprehensive, month-long STEM education initiative designed to expand access for students who face barriers to STEM opportunities, including girls ages 13 to 17.
Key activities included the STAR Lecture, an interactive session covering concepts such as perception, selective attention, emotions and false memories; a Sensory Challenge with group-based experiments across four interactive sensory stations; and a Gallery Trail through curated exhibits, including “Dialogue with Time,” “Mind’s Eye” and “Smart Nation.” To extend learning, participants received follow-up educational materials, and the STAR Lecture was made publicly available online — broadening access to STEM education throughout the community.
Program impact
- 1,181 students participated, including 967 girls ages 13 to 17 years and 214 students receiving financial assistance
- The program fostered measurable improvements in students’ attitudes toward STEM, enhancing enjoyment, exploration, discussion and appreciation of multiple perspectives
- 85% of surveyed participants reported increased interest in one or more areas of STEM, while 82% felt more confident in applying STEM concepts to real-world problems
- 21 Avantor associates volunteered at the UNTAME Festival to help engage over 200 young minds in STEM