NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Sept. 13, 2016 - Medtronic Foundation today announced that five community organizations will receive a combined $250,000 in Health Access Grants in recognition of their continued commitment to expanding access to healthcare and promoting healthy lifestyles in Los Angeles. Each organization will use these grants for up to two years for the continued work in their respective programs to help educate and positively impact people with diabetes. Each organization was nominated by local Medtronic employees working in Northridge, Calif.

The 2016 Health Access Grant recipients for programs in Northridge are:

• American Diabetes Association (ADA) Los Angeles Chapter will use its Medtronic Health Access Grant to continue to educate people with type 2 diabetes, specifically the underserved African American community, on management and treatment options. ADA is a US based association dedicated to preventing and curing diabetes and improving the lives of people with diabetes.
• JDRF Los Angeles will use its Medtronic Health Access Grant to continue to educate the broader and under-served community about type 1 diabetes who may not have access to the most up-to-date information due to language or economic barriers, and to provide resources to improve access to care. JDRF is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research, advocating for government support of research and new therapies, ensuring new therapies come to market and connecting and engaging the type 1 diabetes community.
• MEND - Meet Each Need with Dignity will use its Medtronic Health Access Grant to help provide medical, dental and vision care and education to uninsured people with diabetes. Their program is aimed at improving overall health, A1C levels and weight loss efforts. MEND was founded in 1971 with the purpose of transforming the lives of the neediest residents of the San Fernando Valley.
• Dignity Health- Northridge Hospital Medical Center will use its Medtronic Health Access Grant to continue educating the underserved Latino population about type 2 diabetes with the aim of improving their diabetes management, eating habits and physical activity. The hospital works closely with Dignity Health Medical Group Northridge Family Medicine, which is adjacent to the hospital and serves 2,800 people living with diabetes, including many low-income families. They also provide emergency care and serve as the only pediatric trauma center in the San Fernando Valley.
• Partners in Care Foundation will use its Medtronic Health Access Grant to launch the next phase of their diabetes self-management programs, increasing access for low-income, underserved Hispanic communities throughout Los Angeles. This project will help create a process for physicians to refer high-risk patients to community-based workshops to help them better manage diabetes with new everyday tools and skills. Partners in Care Foundation's Mission is to design and implement new models of evidence-based care that address the key social determinants of health.

With more than 1,500 employees in Northridge, Medtronic is committed to supporting the communities where its employees live and give. Medtronic employees support their community by volunteering at the following organizations:

• San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission
• MEND
• Stop Hunger Now
• Children's Hunger Fund
• Los Angeles Food Bank

"At Medtronic, we are driven by a belief that access to quality healthcare is fundamental for all people around the world. As Medtronic employees, we strive to make a difference in our local communities. The Medtronic Foundation invests in localized health access initiatives that support community-based organizations and is awarding these local organizations Health Access Grants so that they can continue their important work in expanding access to quality health care," said Francine Kaufman, M.D., chief medical officer, Diabetes Group of Medtronic.

Medtronic Foundation Health Access Grants are awarded in 72 different communities around the world in recognition of community-based programs and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to expanding access to chronic disease care for the underserved.

About Medtronic and Medtronic Foundation
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 88,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. The Medtronic Foundation focuses on supporting health and health access initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give.

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Contacts:
Pamela Reese
Public Relations
+1-818-576-3398