Targacept’s focus on corporate responsibility has been unwavering as we translate vision into operational goals, establish and achieve challenging milestones, continually improve our financial performance, heighten efficiency through advanced technologies, attain high standards of individual performance, utilize the best business practices, improve shareholder value, and demonstrate a strong commitment to both our industry and community.

Beyond operational excellence, Targacept demonstrates its dedication to our industry and community. Our employees serve on numerous national, regional and local committees involved with biotechnology, economic development, education and workforce development, and many are adjunct faculty at prestigious universities. We are committed to science education through such programs as our Brain Awareness Week lecture series and Triad BioSummer, a unique program for students interested in biotechnology and entrepreneurship. Our employees serve as curriculum advisors, guest speakers, and science fair judges. Targacept provides tours for hundreds of teachers, students and business leaders each year to engage them in understanding our industry. We have developed a model program for internships which includes opportunities for students from high school through graduate school. Targacept is a top performer for the United Way and our employees are volunteers for numerous community endeavors.

As we continue to lead our industry through innovation, Targacept remains committed to our goal of improving lives through research and partnership while maintaining our devotion to strengthen our workforce, community and industry. We believe that’s a winning combination.

Targacept Hosts Lunch for United Way

Targacept will host a luncheon in early October 2007, a tradition we began last year. The luncheon will be held in the beautiful outdoor park in the Piedmont Triad Research Park; its purpose it to help raise awareness for the United Way of Forsyth County. Details will be available on our site in early August.

Targacept Supports Chamber's BioSummer 2007 Program

Targacept is pleased to help present BioSummer 2007, an important program for the future of biotechnology in North Carolina. BioSummer is a two-week, hands-on immersion program in biotechnology and entrepreneurship for rising eighth graders and rising juniors who may be interested in pursuing careers in the life sciences.

The 2007 program was held June 18 - 29, 2007, on the Wake Forest University campus, with field trips to area life sciences laboratories and special guest speakers on a variety of topics. The Technology Council of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce coordinates the program.

This is the fourth year of the program. It has grown from 10 students in 2004 to this summer's total of 45 local students (25 from high school and 20 from middle school). Students, teachers, parents, guest lecturers and field trip presenters are all pleased with the high caliber of the students in the program and the exciting BioSummer curriculum.

Targacept and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Host Brain Awareness Week Activities in Winston-Salem

Nationally recognized experts on brain function, cognitive impairment, neuroscience, and music took part in Winston-Salem’s celebration of Brain Awareness Week 2007, an international series of events. In this, our second year of participation in this program, our audience increased from 500 last year to over 1,600 attendees at a series of seven events.

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) was March 12-18, 2007. Our local events were planned throughout the month of March. Events were held in 66 countries by more than 1,950 organizations. BAW is designed to highlight the wonders of the brain and nervous system, to focus national and international attention on the progress in and benefits of neuroscience research, and to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand more about the “universe between their ears.”

Local events are presented by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC) experts, their Brain Awareness Council and Targacept. This year's events included: a symposium at WFUBMC entitlted: Neuroscience of the Ailing Brain; a panel discussion entitled: Is There New Hope for Depression?; brain fairs at Southwest Elementary School, SciWorks and The Children's Museum of Winston-Salem; a luncheon discussion on recovery from stroke held at Salem College; and a Careers in Neuroscience day at Targacept.

Targacept Builds a Habitat for Humanity House

To give back to the community in which we work and live, Targacept raised the funds and recruited the “people power” to build a house for Habitat for Humanity in Winston-Salem, NC. The Habitat Build took place in the summer of 2005 and our happy Habitat family of owners took occupancy of the house on November 10, 2005.

Targacept employees, families, friends, and colleagues worked side by side to construct the house. Many employees, suppliers, area merchants and friends donated funds, items and services to help with the underwriting. Two special events, TargaFest, a dinner auction held in April, and our Community Luncheon, held in May, also helped to generate funds for the project. The Habitat Project was successfully coordinated by Lori Jostes along with our Build Captains, Phil Hammond and Craig Miller.

Targacept Volunteers Raise Funds for Public Radio

Each spring and fall, a team of Targacept staffers volunteer at WFDD 88.5 FM for our National Public Radio Fall Fundraiser. The goal of the drive is to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the station's programming budget. WFDD serves the listening area in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point markets.

Targacept Helps Present Region's First Women's Venture Capital Conference

The region’s first venture capital seminar focusing on engaging more women in the venture capital (VC) industry was held at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, on Friday, November 7, 2003, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Seminar, "Venture Capital Seminar—Diversifying the Industry; Engaging Women," featured a keynote luncheon and panel discussions on Early Stage and Late Stage Venture Capital. A dynamic group of international and regional venture capital experts and entrepreneurs was assembled for the event.

The Piedmont Angel Network, Salem College, and the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce collaborated to create the Seminar, to help demystify the world of venture capital and encourage more women to engage in venture capital investing and entrepreneurship. Ernst & Young, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, RBC Centura, and the Business Journal of the Greater Triad sponsored the event. Kucera Pharmaceutical Company and Targacept, Inc., provided special assistance in conference planning.

Targacept Staffers Support American Heart Walk

Lending a hand in the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease and stroke, Targacept’s 2004 Heart Walk Team Captain Craig Miller recruited a strong team to help AHA exceed its 2003 Heart Walk goal.  The Tanglewood AHA Walk was recognized as one of the top three in the Mid-Atlantic division.