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ASHP Foundation and Hospira Announce Expanded Donor-Matching Program to Fund Medication Safety Research and Education -- Hospira to provide up to $50,000 in matching-grant funds -- ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation and Hospira, Inc. (NYSE:HSP) today jointly announced that Hospira will sponsor the largest donor-matching program in the history of the ASHP Foundation. The announcement was made during the 39th ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Orlando, Fla. During the six-month donor-matching program, which benefits the ASHP Foundation's 2005 Annual Campaign, Hospira will match up to $30,000 in donations made between Dec. 5, 2004, and May 31, 2005. If the Foundation reaches the $30,000 mark by Jan. 31, 2005, Hospira will continue to match each additional donation dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, through the end of the campaign on May 31. The total potential value of Hospira's campaign match is $50,000. This year's donor-matching program is also unique because it is the first time that it has extended past the ASHP's Midyear Clinical Meeting. Previous donor-matching campaigns have only solicited donations during the five-day meeting. Money raised from the donor-matching program will help fund research and education programs that advance projects devoted to improving patient safety, including the Pharmacy Resident Medication Safety Grant Program and the Junior Investigator Research Grant Program, which funds new researchers conducting health services and medication use studies. "The ASHP Foundation and Hospira share a common goal of reducing medication-related errors and improving patient safety," said John Arnott, senior vice president, Global Commercial Operations, Hospira. "In sponsoring the donor-matching program, Hospira is continuing its commitment to improving the health and well-being of patients by funding research and education into innovative medication management solutions, with the ultimate goal of improving patient and healthcare worker safety." To launch this major fundraising program and help the Foundation achieve its goal, Hospira double-matched all donations received during a donor reception on Sunday evening, Dec. 5. "The matching program has been an important cornerstone of the Foundation's campaign each year because of its ability to attract donors who consider the corporate match to their gifts an invaluable opportunity to maximize their impact," said Diane Ginsburg, co-chair of the ASHP Foundation's Development Committee. "We are fortunate to have Hospira as our sponsor this year. We have found an exceptional partner who shares our goal of enhancing patient safety." The ASHP Foundation's Annual Campaign also supports the Scholar-in- Residence projects to study pharmacy practice and medication use issues; training in pharmacy practice research skills, such as the Basic Research Skills education session held at the 2004 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; and the work of the Research Advisory Panel, which provides guidance to the Foundation's research agenda, emphasizing patient care and medication safety. Hospira - Advancing Wellness(TM) Through Corporate Citizenship Acknowledging social responsibility through active citizenship and thoughtful giving is part of Hospira's unwavering commitment to its communities. The company is dedicated to serving as a strategic and responsible citizen in its global neighborhood. Through its Advancing Wellness philanthropic initiative, which provides support to national and regional organizations that promote health and wellness activities, Hospira is helping to strengthen organizations through charitable partnerships, thoughtful giving, product donations and global relief efforts. About Hospira Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness by developing, manufacturing and marketing products that help improve the safety and efficacy of patient care. Created from the core global hospital products business of Abbott Laboratories, Hospira is a new company with 70 years of service to the hospital industry. The company's portfolio includes one of the industry's broadest lines of generic acute-care injectables, which help address the high cost of proprietary pharmaceuticals in hospitals; integrated solutions for medication management and infusion therapy; and a full-service contract manufacturing business. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., north of Chicago, Hospira has more than 14,000 employees and 15 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Hospira's news releases and other information can be found at http://www.hospira.com/ . About the ASHP Research and Education Foundation The ASHP Research and Education Foundation, established in 1968 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. It seeks to improve the health and well-being of patients in hospitals and health systems through appropriate, safe and effective medication use. It provides leadership and conducts education and research activities that foster the coordination of interdisciplinary medication management leading to optimal patient outcomes. Emphasis is given to programs that will have a major impact on advancing pharmacy practice in hospitals and health systems, thereby improving public health. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040503/HSPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Hospira, Inc. CONTACT: Shannon Gore, +1-224-212-2003, or Stacey Eisen, +1-224-212-2276, both of Hospira; or Bethany Walls, +1-301-664-8795, or Amy Olin, +1-301-664-8775, both of ASHP Research and Education Foundation Web site: http://www.hospira.com/

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