Driving Impact Through Partnership: Honoring Corporate Leaders at Pathways 2026

At the 2026 Pathways Conference, the Arthritis Foundation brought together patients, caregivers, healthcare leaders and partners with a shared goal: to shape a stronger, more connected future for those living with arthritis. 

Among the most meaningful moments of the conference was the recognition of this year’s Corporate Impact Award winners — organizations whose commitment to partnership is helping redefine what progress looks like. 

These honorees are not only supporting the mission, they are also helping advance it in ways that are measurable, scalable and deeply human. 

Partnership That Shapes the Future of Care — Pacira BioSciences 

At the Arthritis Foundation, the focus is not only on supporting patients but also on helping shape the future of patient care itself. That is what makes the partnership with Pacira so meaningful.  

Over the past year, Pacira has worked alongside the Arthritis Foundation to better understand one of the most critical parts of the arthritis experience: managing pain before, during and after joint replacement. Together, this collaboration has surfaced new patient insights that are helping inform how care teams communicate, prepare and support patients throughout the surgical journey and where the experience can be improved. What sets this partnership apart is its focus on turning insight into action. 

Pacira is helping translate these insights into patient-centered education that supports shared decision-making, equipping individuals with clear, practical information about non-opioid pain management options and what to expect across recovery. By strengthening understanding and setting expectations early, this work helps patients feel more confident, more prepared and more in control of their care, while supporting clinicians with tools that improve conversations and care planning. 

“At Pacira, we believe patients deserve clearer choices and better support when navigating their pain management options before, during and after joint replacement,” says Ryan Patterson, SVP Marketing and Portfolio Strategy. “Our partnership with the Arthritis Foundation is helping turn patient insights into practical education and tools that strengthen shared decision-making and advance non-opioid pain management to help people feel more prepared, more confident and better cared for throughout their pain journey.” 

This is a partnership that moves beyond awareness. It is helping to shape the future of how care is delivered. Pacira is not just supporting the mission, they are helping lead the conversation as well. 

Impact at the Community Level — Stater Bros. Markets 

Some of the most powerful partnerships are the ones that meet people where they are: in their communities and in their everyday lives. Stater Bros. Markets exemplifies exactly that. 

For years, Stater Bros. has been a driving force behind the Orange County Jingle Bell Run — bringing together employees, customers and a broad network of consumer brand partners in support of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission. What makes this partnership especially impactful is its ability to grow beyond a single organization. 

By engaging their network of brand partners and vendors, Stater Bros. has expanded the reach of the Arthritis Foundation, introducing new audiences and new organizations to the work being done to support people living with arthritis. Together, these efforts have helped raise more than $1 million over the past eight years, supporting research, advocacy and critical resources for the arthritis community. 

“At Stater Bros., serving our community isn’t something we do —I t’s who we are. The neighborhoods we serve are the same ones our teammates, customers and vendor partners call home. That’s why the Orange County and Inland Empire Jingle Bell Run mean so much to us. Each year, we’re proud to show up alongside our teammates and vendor partners, walking together in support of our neighbors living with arthritis. It’s a simple act, but it brings people together in a meaningful way,” says Nancy Negrette, Chairman and President, Stater Bros. Charities. 

This is what true partnership looks like: leveraging relationships, influence and community to create impact at scale. It is also a powerful example of what is possible when retail and purpose come together in a meaningful way. 

Looking Ahead 

The Corporate Impact Award winners recognized at Pathways 2026 represent more than individual contributions; they also reflect what is possible when organizations align around a shared purpose. As the Arthritis Foundation continues to drive progress, partnerships like these will remain essential to advancing innovation, expanding access and improving outcomes for millions of people living with arthritis. 

Because meaningful change doesn’t happen alone. It happens together.