Solvay Pharmaceuticals Awards 100 College Scholarships To Students With Cystic Fibrosis

Main Category: Cystic Fibrosis
Article Date: 18 Oct 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it awarded scholarships to 100 students with cystic fibrosis (CF). The 100 SolvayCARESSM Scholarships were awarded to every eligible applicant this year in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the scholarship program, which supports students pursuing any form of education beyond the high school level.

Winners receive a scholarship for two years of higher education study. In 2007, the SolvayCARESSM program is providing $280,000 in educational support to these very deserving students.

Since the inception of its CF scholarship program 15 years ago, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has awarded 400 scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million. The company has historically given between 20 and 40 scholarships per year.

Cystic fibrosis presents extraordinary health burdens for patients and financial challenges for families. Thanks to tremendous advances in medical treatments, more young adults with CF are living longer, healthier lives than ever before, and many more are pursuing higher education.

"From these amazing students, we can all learn valuable life lessons about bravery, strength and the determination to live each day to its fullest," said Laurence Downey, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Our scholarship recipients have overcome adversity and persevered both in and out of the classroom. We are honored to support their academic pursuits."

In her scholarship application, Ashley Fabio, 19, of Grand Island, N.Y., writes of her experiences living with CF.

"I told myself that by having CF I would become a better person," she explains. "I learned to have courage, strength and love each moment of every day. Cystic fibrosis should not be a disease stopping children from being active, but an inspiration to push hard for your dreams."

SolvayCARESSM provides nutritional, educational and financial support to CF patients and their families. Scholarships are awarded to students based on scholastic achievement, financial need, leadership qualities and the ability to serve as a role model to others with CF. All U.S. citizens with CF who are high school seniors, vocational school students or college students are eligible to apply. Applications are available at CF treatment centers nationwide each year from March through June. More information can also be found at http://www.solvaycares.com.

About Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Marietta, Ga., is the U.S. subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit http://www.solvaypharmaceuticals.com.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a research driven group of companies that constitutes the global pharmaceutical business of the Solvay Group. The company seeks to fulfill carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardiometabolic, influenza vaccines, gastroenterology, and men's and women's health. Its 2006 sales were EUR 2.6 billion and it employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.solvaypharmaceuticals.com.

SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 29,000 people in 50 countries. In 2006, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at http://www.solvay.com.