IRVINE, Calif., May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, today announced that reports from its philanthropic partners in the Every Heartbeat Matters initiative demonstrate they have impacted the global burden of heart valve disease by educating, screening and/or treating more than 200,000 underserved individuals since the initiative launched in 2014.

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"While heart valve disease is debilitating and life threatening, with timely and appropriate care, people can not only survive, but also live fulfilling and productive lives," said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO, Edwards Lifesciences. "Every Heartbeat Matters is focused on reaching one million underserved people and saving lives that would otherwise be lost, by working with strategic partners to provide broad-reaching public education, targeted heart screenings, advanced clinical skill trainings, and treatment for some in desperate circumstances."

Every Heartbeat Matters supports patient-focused non-profit organizations through grants from Edwards Lifesciences Foundation and donations of Edwards products for indigent care. The initiative is focused on meeting one specific goal: by 2020, Every Heartbeat Matters will impact the global burden of heart valve disease by supporting the education, screening and treatment of one million underserved people. Investments in this initiative to date total more than $10 million.

"We are proud of the work that our non-profit partners are leading to help some of the world's most disadvantaged heart valve patients," said Mussallem. "We are inspired by their work and the lives that have been improved already as we pursue our goal - yet we also recognize that there is more work to be done."

Request for Proposals
Edwards Lifesciences Foundation is seeking requests for funding from non-profit organizations around the world to serve as partners on programs for the Every Heartbeat Matters initiative and to strengthen the communities in which Edwards' employees live and work. The foundation's 2016 grant cycle will be open May 23 to June 17, 2016. Funding applications will be available at Edwards.com/CorporateGiving. Additional information about Edwards' global corporate giving, including a complete listing of all grants issued from the foundation and information for potential partners, can also be found on the website.

About Edwards Lifesciences and Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
Edwards Lifesciences, based in Irvine, Calif., is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company collaborates with the world's leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives. For more information, visit www.Edwards.com and follow us on Twitter @EdwardsLifesci. In 2004, the company established what is now Edwards Lifesciences Foundation. The foundation focuses on supporting underserved heart valve and critically ill patients, as well as strengthening the communities in which Edwards employees live and work. Since its inception, the foundation has gifted more than $40 million to non-profit organizations. Additional information can be found at Edwards.com/CorporateGiving.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo and Every Heartbeat Matters are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Edwards Lifesciences Corporation