Apr 07, 2022

Philips Partners with Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Payne Center for Social Justice

Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities Key to Improving Health Equity

Cambridge, Mass. – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced a partnership with The Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice, a national think tank and research center rooted in the African American community, to support research and innovative health-related programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In addition to a financial contribution, Philips will provide in-kind efforts such as capacity building for grant and proposal opportunities and additional support services in this progressive partnership. The Payne Center is an initiative of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College community.

HBCUs have traditionally been underfunded, creating a key challenge in addressing health equity and health issues with the African American community. 80% of Black doctors and dentists are trained at an HBCU and 56% of HBCU faculty are African American or Black, making HBCUs uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the Black community. Working together, Philips and the Payne Center will not only advocate for increased research grants and appropriations for programs that drive solutions to improve access to care in underserved communities but will also support faculty research on HBCU campuses that will inform policymakers.

Ultimately, we hope to see our HBCUs develop solutions by the Black community, for the Black community, that will drive health equity. By working with a leading health technology organization such as Philips we believe we will be able to meet our goals.

Dr. Harry L. Williams

President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

“Partnerships, like the one announced today with Philips, provide the lifeblood for our organization and the HBCUs we support. Their financial contribution and resources will afford the Payne Center additional capacity to pursue more research opportunities for our HBCUs and move the needle when it comes to relevant legislation,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Ultimately, we hope to see our HBCUs develop solutions by the Black community, for the Black community, that will drive health equity. By working with a leading health technology organization such as Philips we believe we will be able to meet our goals.”

There are more than 100 HBCUs across 19 States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, educating 300,000 students annually. While recent investment in HBCUs has improved, a previous study indicated that HBCUs had received less than 1% of the $18.4 billion in grants awarded to higher education by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), making support through partnership a critical element to the success of HBCUs.

“Our purpose is to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030, including 400 million in underserved communities, and working with leading organizations that share our commitment to improve health equity and health outcomes for underserved communities is an important part of this,” said Pamela Hall, senior executive, Philips and TMCF business liaison. “As a proud graduate of Delaware State University, I have seen first-hand the talented professionals and world-changing initiatives that come from HBCUs. Combining forces with The Payne Center will help drive much needed research that focuses on the health and well-being of the African American community.”

To view a video about the partnership, please click here.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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About the Dr. N Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund created the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice to serve as a nexus in advancing social justice for Black Americans. The Payne Center is a national think tank and research center rooted in the African American community that draws together top HBCU scholars, national thought leaders, community advocates, and on-the-ground solution-makers. Together, we identify, evaluate, and scale new evidenced-based programs and policies designed to create sustainable, positive change to the fabric of Black life in American society. Learn more: paynecenter.org

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About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.

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