DEERFIELD, Ill., 2016-Oct-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Just over two years into its collaboration with the charity, Vitamin Angels, Walgreens has reached its goal of helping to provide 100 million children and mothers with essential vitamins and supplements they need to help prevent blindness and other serious conditions in undernourished children around the world. The company announced the milestone more than a year ahead of its original goal to achieve it by the end of 2017.
Since June 2014, through its commitment to Vitamin Angels, Walgreens has donated 1 percent of retail sales from vitamin and supplement purchases. As of the end of September 2016, Walgreens has helped raise more than $25 million for the charity, which is providing the vitamins to at-risk populations in nearly 50 countries, including the U.S. Walgreens collaboration with Vitamin Angels will continue to provide more life-changing vitamins to children and mothers in need.
“We’re extremely proud of our Walgreens employees and customers’ support of and participation in the Vitamin Angels program as together we are making a difference, helping impact lives around the world,” said Robert Tompkins, Walgreens group vice president and general merchandise manager, health and wellness. “It’s great to see how we’ve helped millions of people in need through this program, which also supports our efforts to improve population health, particularly within underserved communities.”
Last year, select Walgreens team members joined Vitamin Angels on several trips to experience and observe the distribution of essential vitamins.
“These field trip experiences gave us an opportunity to see first-hand the impact our support is making as well as the continued need for vitamins both here in the U.S. and around the world,” added Tompkins.
Vitamin Angels helps at-risk populations in need – specifically pregnant women, new mothers and children under 5 – gain access to lifesaving and life changing vitamins and minerals. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients address chronic malnutrition and the resulting morbidity and mortality caused by vitamin deficiencies. The organization mobilizes public sector organizations, private sector resources and motivated individuals to reach these underserved children and mothers domestically and internationally. Vitamin Angels has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency.
“Walgreens has shown us the heart of a great organization and what is possible when good people come together in a concerted effort to change things!” said Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels’ president and founder. “When Walgreens says ‘Buy vitamins here, Change lives everywhere,’ they could not be more accurate. Walgreens has given millions of children and moms a chance for a better life and a brighter future!”
For more information, visit: www.walgreens.com/vitaminangels.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens omni-channel business includes Walgreens.com and VisionDirect.com. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
Contact:
Tel: 847-315-2921.
Email: media@walgreens.com
Source: Walgreens