A Message from the CEO
For Avanos, being a good corporate citizen starts by looking beyond our organization and embracing a holistic view of the world. We recognize that our actions as a team of 5,300 employees can have a profound impact far beyond our customers and their patients.
In a year like 2020, when the challenges sometimes seemed insurmountable, Avanos employees around the world pulled together and demonstrated resilience, compassion and tenacity in approaching each situation they faced.
Despite the restrictions of the global pandemic, we found innovative solutions to continue serving our customers while ensuring their safety and the safety of our teammates. We extended our support by making charitable donations to frontline healthcare workers to purchase PPE and related supplies. This included a $250,000 donation to Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization to equip doctors and nurses with life-saving medical resources.
We also committed to doing better and being better as an organization, starting with the creation of a We Stand Together initiative and the formation of a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council to create meaningful, long-term change to ensure that our employees feel valued, respected and heard. To back up this commitment, we proudly donated $100,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that challenges racial injustice, seeks to end mass incarceration, and works to protect the basic human rights of the most vulnerable people in American society.
Corporate citizenship is also about taking responsibility for operating ethically and in compliance with applicable regulations around the world. And, it means partnering with suppliers who mirror our integrity and desire to run safe and sustainable businesses. We uphold both of these important tenets in all of our global operations.
I’m proud to share our story in this report. Thank you for your interest in Avanos!
Joseph F. Woody
Chief Executive Officer
Avanos Medical