When it comes to corporate philanthropy, Hologic, Inc. – a global leader in developing medical technologies for detecting, diagnosing and treating health conditions affecting women around the world – takes a focused approach.
“We’re trying to make our dollars count by investing in grass-roots groups working on the front lines in our underserved communities,” said Monica Aguirre Berthelot, Hologic Vice President and Chief of Staff.
That commitment has made Hologic a trusted partner of San Diego Foundation (SDF), most recently through SDF’s Fifty & Forward Campaign celebrating 50 years of regional impact. Together, SDF and Hologic are channeling resources into organizations making measurable change. For example:
- Neighborhood Healthcare: Equipping a new women’s health clinic in El Cajon, supporting breast cancer survivors, and strengthening OB-GYN services. “SDF catalyzed our partnership with Neighborhood Healthcare through its expertise and knowledge of community needs and our corporate giving priorities,” Monica said.
- Fundeso (National Foundation of Solidarity Against Breast Cancer in Costa Rica): Providing critical support for early detection efforts, temporary housing for women accessing specialized care, and rehabilitation services.
- Partners in Giving: Matching employee contributions of time and money to the nonprofits they care about most.
- STEM Education: Backing programs from elementary schools to universities that expand opportunities for underserved students.
All of these initiatives are administered through Hologic’s donor-advised fund at SDF, ensuring that philanthropy is not just charitable, but strategic.
Commitment to Core Values
Doctor comforting patient in office
Hologic’s giving flows directly from its corporate values: enabling healthier lives, championing women’s health worldwide; and helping healthcare professionals, and their patients, make confident medical decisions. These guiding principles shape its philanthropic focus in three areas:
- Women’s Health: Expanding access to breast, gynecological, cervical, and sexual health services.
- Education: Supporting programs that open doors for students underrepresented STEM fields.
- Equity: Promoting social and racial equity in both education and healthcare.
A Long-Term Community Connection
Hologic’s roots in San Diego philanthropy stretch back more than a generation through Gen-Probe, a molecular diagnostics leader acquired in 2012 whose management saw in SDF a partner aligned with their values. Since then, Hologic has nurtured its giving through its Corporate Philanthropy Committee, a volunteer group of employees committed to advancing equity in the communities where they live and work.
Today, Hologic employs more than 7,000 people worldwide, including 1,200 employees at its Sorrento Mesa campus, and is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Through it all, Hologic has maintained its deep relationship with SDF, valuing both the Foundation’s local expertise and its global philanthropic vision.
“Hologic is proud of its long-term partnership with San Diego Foundation to elevate equity,” Monica said. “Equity shows up in many ways: in women’s health and well-being, in educational opportunity, and in the fight for social and racial justice.”
She expounded on the company’s focus through a simple lens: “Two-thirds of U.S. women already receive screenings and wellness exams. We’re focused on the remaining one-third of women who don’t, and that’s often because of systemic barriers. These are women who are marginalized, underrepresented, and dispossessed. That’s where our work, and our partnership with SDF, can make the greatest impact.”
Looking 50 Years Forward
For half a century, SDF and its corporate partners have invested in making our region healthier, stronger, and more inclusive. As the Foundation builds the next 50 years through its Fifty & Forward Campaign, it is working to grant $500 million to realize our region’s greatest opportunities in three key areas: education, children and families, and the environment – while raising $1 billion to shape a vibrant future for all who call our region home.
With partners like Hologic, that promise is well within reach.
