(8 Dec 2022) Amgen Korea (GM: Sang-Kyung Noh) announced the successful completion of the Blue Wish campaign, an outreach program for which Amgen Korea employees volunteered to show a message of hope and support to children with critical illnesses in Korea with Make-A-Wish Korea (President: Sang-Il Park). A total of 27 volunteered for the campaign to discover wishes of these children through the Wish Journey this year, and grant the wishes of 6 children on Wish Day
One of the most representative outreach programs at Amgen Korea to give emotional support to children with critical illnesses aged between 3 and 18, the Blue Wish campaign is designed to realize Amgen’s mission to serve patients and do what the company can do for Korea in line with Amgen Korea’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategies. This year was the first year and featured 6 teams with 27 volunteered employees, with each team engaging with 1 child for the Wish Journey to discover his or her wish.
The Wish Journey started in June when the volunteers met the children for the first time, and lasted for 6 months. They met each other about 30 times, both virtually and physically, to discover what these children are interested in, are good at, and want to be in the future before designing how their wishes and dreams can come true. Captured were 6 wishes – designing merchandise, playing electronic drum, taking a DIY class, being a fashion designer, training a dog, and decorating a room – for which Wish Day was planned.
The wishes of 6 children were granted on Wish Day where their dreams and brilliance were cherished and encouraged. One of them, who wishes to be a nurse, designed, drew and made merchandise, which were shared with attending doctors and nurses in a show of appreciation for them. The one who wants to be a dog trainer had a chance to meet a professional canine trainer to learn more and ask questions about dogs. An electronic drum set was given to the one dreaming of becoming a drummer in the future, who also had a chance to play it with friends at a gig. As for the one whose dream to become a fashion designer is not dashed by acute myeloid leukemia, a hands-on tufting class was arranged in an encouragement of dreaming even bigger. For a younger kid, who was eager to learn new things, an online DIY class was offered for more hands-on experience; and the one who wanted to have a princess’ room had that dream come true through the special furniture that had previously existed only in her imagination.
Sang Noh, GM, Amgen Korea, said: "The partnership with Make-A-Wish Korea for the Blue Wish campaign marks an important occasion for us to give hope to children with critical illnesses in Korea. What makes this campaign even more meaningful is that people at Amgen Korea volunteered for it, bringing the company mission to serve patients to life as a member of Amgen. I hope the 6-month-long journey was a chance to encourage and inspire the children to take one step closer to their dreams through the warm hearts of our employees who had been closely engaged with these young precious souls to grant their wishes. Driven by our ESG strategies, Amgen Korea will continue to do what we can to make positive impacts on the local community we serve.”
Min-Ji Kim, Manager of Value Access & Policy, who volunteered for the Blue Wish campaign, said: “I feel grateful for this special opportunity to grant wishes of children with critical illnesses. Last 6 months have been really rewarding for me as I interacted with my wish kid, discovered the kid’s dream and had it fulfilled. I hope Wish Day can uplift the children to live a prouder and healthier life.”
Aligned with Amgen’s global ESG aspirations, Amgen Korea remains committed to being socially responsible in Korea. In the Social area, in particular, Amgen Korea has put in place a multitude of ESG programs designed to promote diversity, inclusion and belonging, and to increase investments for growth of the local community it serves under the Corporate Responsibility 2025 plan. Other examples of Amgen Korea’s efforts on this, on top of the Blue Wish campaign, are the Golden House campaign for improved living condition for the underprivileged seniors, the Grow up, Bio up campaign for life science education of children and adolescents, and the Amgen-KAST Biotechnology Awards aiming at discovering and supporting promising young scientists in life science.
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