Since 2011, Astellas USA Foundation has partnered with Starlight Children's Foundation to improve the comfort and care of pediatric patients, thus improving the quality of life for children and their families.

In 2016, through to a sizeable underwriting, Astellas USA Foundation donated 22 VGo robots to 12 children's care facilities in four cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Boston).

VGo robots have the fun and unique ability to change every aspect of pediatric care in a positive way, from education, to social and emotional wellness, to care management. VGos allow for engaged “teleportation,” allowing pediatric patients integration with the outside world. By using VGos, they can teleport into a desired environment (such as a classroom) and also “drive” the robot through that environment. They control the robot’s physical movements, allowing patients to regain a level of control in their environment—something almost always lost when a child undergoes significant health challenges.

In year's past, Astellas USA Foundation funded renovations of two rooms in pediatric wings of local hospitals—a state-of-the-art dialysis unit for children in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and a modern, high-tech teen lounge at a facility in Park Ridge, Illinois to further promote healing in fun, family-friendly spaces.

Starlight Children's Foundation is a leading global charity that works to improve quality of life for children, families and communities around the world. Starlight aligns with global, national and community partners to advance children’s health in every dimension—from prevention and protection to safety and stability to comfort and care—because children are the foundation of our communities.

Each year, Astellas employees provide support for the Starlight Children’s Foundation^® through a matching gift program funded by Astellas Pharma US Inc.

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