News and Events

Cubist's Corporate Citizenship Shines

October 1, 2009

By Matthew McGrath

Long before Lexington-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals became a profitable biotechnology company, President & CEO Mike Bonney pledged that once the company became profitable, Cubist would start giving back in a formal way. Informal giving and volunteerism was long a part of the corporate culture.

Today Cubist has experienced eleven quarters of profitability and earlier this year the company was named the #1 Massachusetts company in the Boston Globe’s Globe 100 rankings based on its financial performance in 2008. Cubist also launched a formal corporate giving program that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

The program, which is overseen by a committee made up of representatives from various departments, formalizes the company’s efforts to support workforce development in Massachusetts.

“We have a deep interest in a well educated workforce that will not only support growth in the life sciences but in all sectors of the economy,” said Francis McLoughlin, senior manager of corporate communications at the Lexington-based Cubist.

In the past two years, Cubist has funded programs including the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education (MassBioEd) Foundation, Citizens Schools, the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair, the Museum of Science, the Match School in Boston,  Science Club for Girls, the Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, the Biomedical Science Careers Program, and the Center for Excellence in Education. The Corporate Giving Committee meets regularly to review grant requests, all submitted on the Associated Grant Makers (AGM) standardized form.

McLoughlin said, “We have a natural connection with MBC and the foundation because a number of our employees are participating in MBC programs. It’s like a puzzle where you get two pieces that fit together really easily.”

The culture of philanthropy runs throughout Cubist and not just via financial commitments. Cubist staff have run apprenticeship programs for Citizen Schools, and recently launched a partnership with the New England Patriots Radio network to honor science teachers who lead and innovate in the classroom.

The company hopes to grow its philanthropy and continue to support worthy causes, McLouglin said.

“It seems that this spirit of volunteerism is viral,” he said. “We all want to do more.”

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