MELMARK BTG DANCE

On Thursday, February 10th, BTG International Inc., a specialist healthcare company in West Conshohocken, organized a day off work to participate in an activity day at Melmark.

BTG's employees partnered with students and adults with disabilities for a fun, interactive day on the dance floor. Dance pads were connected to a sound system, and students and adults danced with volunteers to the beat of the music. The dance game records how many correct "steps" the dancers make, and scores are given at the end of each song. Everyone got the chance to "dance", regardless of their abilities. Volunteers placed dance pads on tables so individuals in wheelchairs could use their hands to tap along to the beat.

BTG Executive Vice President US, Matt Gantz, helped organize and promote the event. He says it is a chance for his team to give back to the local community and put into action the company's corporate values.

"In our industry, we make drugs to help improve people's lives," said Gantz. "This event at Melmark gives us an opportunity to personally interact with local children and adults with disabilities. It helps us appreciate how simple gestures can make a huge difference in someone's life." Gantz says that he and his team are thrilled to interact with children and adults with special needs through the common language of music.

Melmark President and CEO, Joanne Gillis-Donovan, Ph.D., says the volunteers create a wonderful experience for participants. "To see the smiles on the faces of our children and adults, it's just incredible," said Gillis-Donovan. "It was a fun exercise tool, and the volunteers were wonderful dance partners. We are truly grateful for the experience BTG provides for our clients."

BTG partnered with Gamin' Ride, a company that rents mobile video games for events, to provide this opportunity for Melmark's residents and program participants.

BTG is an international specialist healthcare company that is developing and commercializing products targeting critical care, cancer and other disorders. The company is also seeking to acquire new products to develop and market to hospital specialists, and is building a sustainable business financed by revenues from sales of its critical care products and from royalties and milestone payments on partnered products.

Melmark provides residential, educational, vocational and therapeutic services for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and other neurological and genetic disorders. To learn more, visit www.melmark.org.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Dance
• children with disabilities
• disability
• autism
• down syndrome
• melmark
• BTG