CVS Health Foundation announces $1 million new grants to 49 Free and Charitable Clinics across the country

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its ongoing effort to making quality health care convenient and affordable for more Americans, the CVS Health Foundation, a private charitable organization created by CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today (March 1, 2018) extended its commitment to the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) with $1 million in new grants to 49 Free and Charitable Clinics across the country. The new grants will focus on improving health outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

“The rising cost of health care can make finding quality and affordable care harder to come by for many Americans,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “Through our support of the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, we’re able to increase access to quality care, improve chronic disease management and care coordination to help improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable patients and reduce health care costs in the communities we serve.”

The new funds, which bring the Foundation’s total contribution to NAFC to more than $4.5 million since 2015, will support increased access to quality care, as well as chronic disease management and prevention services. Grants, ranging from $10,000to $20,000, will be distributed to 49 free and charitable clinics in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

“The NAFC and our network of charitable health care providers are beyond grateful for the continued support and unwavering commitment we receive from the CVS Health Foundation,” said Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC CEO. “Diabetes and hypertension are the top two diagnoses found among our patient population. This year’s funding will allow our Free and Charitable Clinics to focus on improving their patients’ health outcomes for these chronic conditions, and in turn improving the health of communities across the country.”

For more information on how the Free and Charitable Clinics will be utilizing their grants to improve community health, please visit www.cvshealth.com/NAFC.

About the CVS Health Foundation

The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

About the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,200 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care and strives to be a national voice promoting quality health care for all. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a Four Star Ranking with Charity Navigator.

For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org. Follow the NAFC on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NAFClinics and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NAFCClinics.

Media Contact:
Mary Gattuso,
mary.gattuso@cvshealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

The CVS Health Foundation announces a $550,000 commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Dec-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Foundation today announced a $550,000 commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association, extending its support for a new program to enhance disease diagnosis and assessment with clinicians while also educating them about care and support programs available to help families following a diagnosis. The grant is being shared with six local Alzheimer’s Association chapters and brings the Foundation’s total contribution to more than $1 million since 2016.

“The CVS Health Foundation is proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association in its effort to ensure that patients and caregivers receive the resources they need following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and are able to maintain a high-quality of life,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’ve seen significant results following the first year of the program and look forward to working with the Alzheimer’s Association to continue to fulfill our program’s mission.”

The new charitable commitment builds upon support from the CVS Health Foundation for a new program established in 2016 to increase diagnosis, disclosure and education for Alzheimer’s disease. The six local chapters that have benefited from this support have all shown significant progress toward their goals of partnering with health care providers to enhance their ability to detect, diagnose, and care for individuals living with the disease and their caregivers, including:

  • Broadened Physician Knowledge Over 7,000 clinicians were educated on prevention, diagnosis, therapeutics and research related to Alzheimer’s disease. The education was conducted both in person and virtually in the form of micro-learnings, CME events, office visits, staff trainings and multimedia campaigns.
  • Increased Patient Referrals for Support Services – The six chapters increased patient referrals to the Alzheimer’s Association’s care and support resources from clinical health care professionals by 61 percent following diagnosis.
  • Expanded Capacity Each local chapter was able to expand their internal capacity through hiring of new staff, increased training for existing staff and better utilizing volunteers. As a result, the chapters were able to reach more clinicians, patients and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Through the additional support of the CVS Health Foundation, the Central and North Florida, Desert Southwest, Greater IllinoisMassachusetts/New HampshireNorthern California/Northern Nevada and Greater Missouri chapters will continue their work to expand health care provider outreach and expand automatic referral process for education and care consultations, with the goal of increasing the number of people in each chapter with access to care.

“The Alzheimer’s Association greatly appreciates CVS Health Foundation’s generous support of the Diagnose, Disclose, and Direct Connect Pilot Grant program,” said Beth Kallmyer, Vice President, Care and Support, Alzheimer’s Association. “The grants have been instrumental in launching innovative programs that are influencing provider behavior in terms of detecting and diagnosing dementia as well as educating physicians about the programs available for individuals and families impacted by this devastating disease.”

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise from over 5 million people today to more than 16 million by 2050, and costs are expected to rise as high as $1.1 trillion. Research shows effective health care provider outreach and education are essential for helping people with Alzheimer’s disease achieve their best quality of life.

About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.

About the CVS Health Foundation
The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

Media Contact: Mary Gattuso, (401) 770-9811, mary.gattuso@cvshealth.com

SOURCE CVS Health Foundation

CVS Health Foundation supports the expansion of smoking cessation programs of eight cancer centers with $1 million in grants

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Foundation today (November 1, 2017) announced it has awarded $1 million dollars in grants to eight Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) member cancer centers to build new smoking cessation programs or expand existing ones across the country, enabling each cancer institute to reach more at-risk patient populations.

Research from a 2014 American Cancer Society report demonstrates the seriousness of tobacco cravings among cancer patients and the need for better long-term cessation support. The study finds even nine years after being diagnosed with cancer, nearly 10 percent of survivors still smoke cigarettes and more than 80 percent smoke daily.

“AACI thanks the CVS Health Foundation for its important commitment to promoting tobacco cessation and improving cancer treatment outcomes,” said AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart, MPH. “While all of AACI’s 97 cancer centers champion prevention efforts as they work to reduce the burden of cancer, the new grants targeting tobacco use will extend and expand the vital educational, screening and outreach efforts undertaken by the eight AACI member cancer centers that have been awarded funding.”

The eight cancer centers, which received funding between $100,000 and $130,000each, include: Abramson Cancer Center (Philadelphia); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Cleveland); Hollings Cancer Center (Charleston, SC); Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center (Seattle); Mayo Clinic Cancer Center (Scottsdale); Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York); Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (Dallas); and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles).

The support will be used in a variety of ways including developing educational videos, enhancing screening protocols, hiring wellness coaches and tobacco treatment specialists and developing smoking cessation apps. Through the additional support, patients have already begun to see results in their attempts to quit smoking.

“I got diagnosed in August with cancer and was referred to Dr. Hooper who told me that if I quit smoking the chances of the cancer not coming back would be better, but if I continued to smoke there was a greater chance of the cancer returning, which I had no idea about,” said Cynthia Anderson, a Cleveland-area patient of Monica Webb Hooper, PhD, Director of the Office of Cancer Disparities Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of oncology, psychological sciences, family medicine and community health at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “So, that’s how I got started [in the program] and I actually got my husband on board as well. I do feel better, and I’m grateful that CVS Health is willing to give [smoking cessation] patches and gum to help us in our quest to stop smoking.”

“Addressing smoking among at-risk populations, including cancer patients, is a priority for us,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re proud to support these world-class centers as they bring innovative smoking cessation offerings that will improve cancer treatment outcomes for patients, and bring us one step closer to the first tobacco-free generation.”

Support for smoking cessation programs at cancer centers is part of CVS Health’s Be The First initiative, a five year, $50 million commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives and in turn, help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. Through propriety programs and partnerships, the company’s initiative delivers anti-smoking education, research and tobacco-control advocacy and healthy behavior programming. For more information, please visit CVSHealth.com/BeTheFirst.

About the CVS Health Foundation

The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

Media Contact:

Mary Gattuso
Mary.Gattuso@CVSHealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

CVS Health in-store fundraising campaign raised $4 million for recovery efforts in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Oct-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today (October 4, 2017) announced that its customers and colleagues donated nearly $4 million to support the Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico communities that were devastated by recent hurricanes, during a 10-day in-store fundraising campaign. The company also announced that it will donate more than $6 million of critical products and supplies to these communities, bringing CVS Health’s total support to $10 million.

The funds will be split evenly between Unidos por Puerto Rico, Rebuild Texas Fund and the Florida Disaster Fund to help support rebuilding efforts in these affected communities over the coming weeks and months. Products will be distributed to communities where they are needed the most.

“We are incredibly grateful to our colleagues and customers who have demonstrated our values of caring and integrity over the past few weeks during these historic storms,” said Helena B. Foulkes, executive vice president, CVS Health and president, CVS Pharmacy. “The rebuilding process for many of these communities will take a long time, and we will continue to do our part by providing support during this difficult time.”

To ensure patients and customers received the medications and information they needed during the recent hurricanes, CVS Health mobilized an enterprise-wide effort to help with preparations and accommodations prior to and after the storms.

The company’s proprietary messaging platform enabled rapid and urgent communications to patients who were in the path of hurricanes. Text messages were sent to tens of thousands of patients, reminding them to plan ahead for any potential disruption from the storm. The messages also helped ensure delivery of specialty and other medications for patients in transition between home and safe shelter locations.

Additionally, the catastrophic impact and wide-spread power outages in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria posed particular challenges in coordinating resources for colleagues, customers and patients. In response, CVS Health transported much-needed specialty medications and essential equipment to support store operations in Puerto Rico and, in some cases, delivered medication directly to individual patients who were in need.

“While it is never easy to manage through storms of this magnitude, hundreds of our colleagues have gone above and beyond to ensure that our patients, customers and communities are being served, despite the devastation impacting their own personal lives,” added Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Charitable Foundation. “Their generosity, compassion and dedication to serving others whether it be patients, residents or co-workers is truly amazing.”

In addition to the funds raised through the in-store campaign, CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, colleagues and customers had previously donated nearly $800,000 in cash and in-kind product donations to the American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Salvation Army, Florida Disaster Fund, Unidos por Puerto Rico, Rebuild Texas Fund, the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the CVS Health Employee Relief Fund, a public charity designed to help CVS Health employees during unanticipated and unavoidable financial hardships and emergencies.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its nearly 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:

Joseph Goode
Joseph.Goode@CVSHealth.com
(401) 770-9820

Mary Gattuso
Mary.Gattuso@cvshealth.com
(401) 770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health

Grants now available to help colleges and universities become 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campuses

Grants now available to help colleges and universities become 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campuses

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Sep-20 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Foundation, American Cancer Society and Truth Initiative today (Sept. 19, 2017) announced that grants are now available to help U.S. colleges and universities advocate for, adopt and implement 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. The grants are part of aggressive efforts by all three organizations to deliver the first tobacco-free generation by accelerating and expanding the number of campuses across the country that prohibit smoking and tobacco use.

The announcement of newly available grants coincides with the awarding of $1.2 million in grants to 126 schools who are working toward a tobacco-free campus policy, the largest number of schools to do so at any one time. Spanning the U.S., the campuses include 43 major academic institutions, including Stanford University and University of Pittsburgh; 34 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) including Howard University; and 49 community colleges. Grantees range from colleges in the early stages of building campus support for going tobacco-free to those that have adopted policies and need support to successfully implement them.

The grants delivered through Truth Initiative and American Cancer Society are part of Be The First, CVS Health’s five-year, $50 million initiative that supports education, tobacco control, and healthy behavior programming with a goal of helping to deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. CVS Health’s efforts targeting college students meet an urgent and critical need. Of the roughly 20 million college and university students in the U.S., more than 1 million have been projected to die prematurely from cigarette smoking.

“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of smoking and tobacco use, and expanding the number of tobacco-free college and university campuses is an important step in our efforts,” said Eileen Howard Boone, President of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re confident our strategy will drive a significant decline in the number of new college-age smokers, and contribute to the progress being made where a tobacco-free generation in the U.S. seems possible.”

With the CVS Health Foundation’s support, the American Cancer Society and Truth Initiative programs help students, faculty and staff develop and execute strategies that are customized to meet the campuses’ unique needs and move the schools toward a 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free environment. Each organization also provides technical assistance and other resources to schools, including education, communications, support to quit smoking and evaluation.

According to a new survey from CVS Health, public support for smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies remains strong. The results released today revealed that three in four Americans (73%) and eight in 10 current U.S. college students (78%) indicated their support for policies that prohibit smoking and other tobacco use on college campuses. At the same time, 57 percent of U.S. college students say a tobacco-free campus is important to them when considering applying to or attending a college. The findings come from a public opinion poll conducted by Morning Consult for CVS Health in August 2017. For more findings, visit www.cvshealth.com/CampusSurvey.

“While we have made great progress driving down the smoking rate to 6 percent among youth, the prevalence of smoking by young adults is 14.2 percent and those who attend college have a higher risk of initiating and experimenting with smoking,” said Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative, the national public health organization that directs and funds the truth campaign. “With 99 percent of smokers starting before age 26, college campuses are critical in preventing young adults from starting tobacco use, aiding current smokers in quitting and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke for all. We are thrilled to be working with the CVS Health Foundation to provide grants to minority-serving institutions, HBCUs, and community colleges to give them the tools to go tobacco-free and be the generation that ends smoking.”

“Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths, killing up to half of its users,” said Gary Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society, “By partnering with the CVS Health Foundation to create tobacco-free campus environments, we can reduce youth tobacco exposure, prevent students from becoming addicted, and ultimately, reduce the number of people who get sick and die from cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.”

Since the launch of its tobacco-free college program in 2016, the CVS Health Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in grants to 146 U.S. colleges and universities as part of an ongoing commitment to accelerate and expand the number of 100 percent tobacco-free campuses. The U.S. Department of Education reports there are approximately 4,700 U.S. colleges and universities, many of which have more than one campus. Yet, only 1,611 campuses are 100-percent smoke- and tobacco-free, according to an Americans for Nonsmokers Rights analysis.

To see the full list of colleges supported by these grants and for more information on the grant application process, please visit http://www.cvshealth.com/tobaccofreecampus.

Poll Methodology 
The poll was conducted online by Morning Consult for CVS Health between August 4-7, 2017 among a national sample of 2,880 U.S. adults, with an oversample of current college students and parents of current college students. Margin of error is +/-2 percentage points.

About the CVS Health Foundation
The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

About The American Cancer Society 
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 25 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About Truth Initiative
Truth Initiative is dedicated to achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco. We speak, seek and spread the truth about tobacco through education, tobacco control research and policy studies, and community activism and engagement. We’ve helped bring teen cigarette use down from 23 percent in 2000 to 7 percent in 2015. We’re proud of that success, but our work won’t stop until we achieve a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco. https://truthinitiative.org/

Media Contacts:

Michael Reich
813-838-8912
michael.reich@cancer.org

Nicole Dueffert
202-454-5589
ndueffert@truthinitiative.org

Mary Gattuso
401-770-9811
mary.gattuso@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

###

CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation donates $200,000 to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Aug-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation today (August 28, 2017) announced $200,000 in cash and in-kind product donations to organizations helping with relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Following widespread damage to communities across the coast of Texas, federal officials are anticipating the storm will drive 30,000 people into shelters and spur 450,000 victims to seek some sort of disaster assistance. In response, the CVS Health Foundation has donated $50,000 each to the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the American Red Cross, as well as $25,000 to Salvation Army, to aid the greater Houston area in supporting local residents as they begin the recovery and rebuilding process. CVS Health colleagues are invited to make a donation amount of their choosing, which will be matched by the CVS Health Foundation, up to $25,000.

CVS Pharmacy is continuing to identify how Hurricane Harvey has impacted over 200 locations in the greater Houston region. The company’s mobile pharmacies will be moved into the area once it is safe to do so. Customers will be able to pick up their prescriptions, purchase over-the-counter medications and receive recommended vaccines.

“We want to offer any assistance we can to our customers, colleagues and communities affected by this disaster,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health, and President of the CVS Health Foundation. “Both CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation are committed to ensuring that residents hit hard by this disaster have continued access to critical pharmacy care and the non-profit partners, first responders, and government agencies leading the relief efforts on the ground have the critical supplies and financial support they need to help those most in need.”

In addition, CVS Health will also donate $25,000 worth of in-kind products including personal hygiene, clean-up and over-the-counter items. The CVS Health Employee Relief Fund is prepared to provide support to colleagues who have been affected by the disaster.

CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefit management division of CVS Health, is able to provide one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medication for plan members in impacted areas at local pharmacies.

CVS Health has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products.

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Gattuso
(401) 770-9811
mary.gattuso@cvshealth.com

Stephanie Cunha
(401) 770-9354
stephanie.cunha@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

CVS Health among Points of Light’s Civic 50 companies

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Jun-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today (June 21, 2017) was recognized by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as one of the fifty most community-minded companies in the United States. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

The Civic 50 companies were announced at the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service in Seattle, where leaders in volunteerism and civic engagement are gathering to discuss social innovation, cross-sector collaboration and citizen engagement can drive change.

“We are fortunate at CVS Health to have colleagues and customers who are generous with their time, expertise and giving to make meaningful differences in the communities we serve,” said Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO, CVS Health. “As a pharmacy innovation company committed to helping people on their path to better health, we’re always looking to identify new and effective ways to make our communities healthier places to work and live.”

CVS Health’s recognition among the Civic 50 follows the recent release of the company’s 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report which highlights a year-round commitment to driving community impact. In 2016, CVS Health contributed more than $90 million in community support through CVS Health Foundation giving, corporate grants, gifts in-kind and employee volunteerism which grew year-over-year by 65 percent. In addition, the company continued to innovate to meet the evolving health care needs of the community. For example, last year CVS Health connected more than 100,000 people with limited resources to preventive health services through a program called Project Health.

CVS Health also encourages its colleagues to participate in year-round pro-bono projects and skills-based volunteerism. For example, through a program called Pharmacists Teach, the company’s pharmacists have visited high school health classes across the country, teaching more than 275,000 students about the dangers of drug abuse.

“At CVS Health, our purpose is helping people on their path to better health and we are committed to leveraging our resources, skills and experience to make a difference in our communities,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, CVS Health, and president of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re honored to be recognized for that as a part of the Civic 50.”

This recognition is the latest in a series of third-party acknowledgments for CVS Health, including being ranked #45 on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list and included among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.

The Civic 50 survey was administered by True Impact, a company specializing in helping organizations maximize and measure their social and business value. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the Civic 50 scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities.

For more information about CVS Health’s approach to corporate social responsibility, visit https://cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

To learn more about The Civic 50, please visit www.Civic50.org.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its nearly 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:
Joe Goode
CVS Health
(401) 770-9820; Joseph.Goode@CVSHealth.com

Mary Gattuso
CVS Health
(401) 770-9811; Mary.Gattuso@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

CVS Health Charity Classic returns with new enhancements and world-class food event

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-May-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Drawing some of the biggest names in golf to the greens of the Rhode Island Country Club, the CVS Health Charity Classic has expanded this year’s event series for golf fans and non-golf fans alike. This year’s Charity Classic event series will kick off with Crave RI, a two-day food festival in Downtown Providence on June 15-16, followed by several exciting activities on June 18-19 at Rhode Island Country Club.

“We are proud to be celebrating the 19th year of the CVS Health Charity Classic with unique, new enhancements for golf fans and introducing a world-class food event for families and foodies across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to enjoy,” said Larry Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Health. “Year after year, the world’s best golfers come out to help us support our charity partners, and this year, we’re looking forward to introducing a new format that will add even more excitement to the tournament.”

The one-day tournament on Monday, June 19th will feature 18 of the nation’s top golfers, comprised of six PGA TOUR, six LPGA Tour and six PGA TOUR Champions players. Each team will be made up of one player from each respective Tour. The top two scores from each hole per team will be counted towards its final score. The lowest team score at the end of 18 holes will be named the Champions of the 2017 CVS Health Charity Classic.

Team pairings will be released on a rolling basis as the event draws closer. The golf professionals participating at the 2017 CVS Health Charity Classic include:

PGA TOUR LPGA Tour PGA TOUR Champions
Keegan Bradley Paula Creamer Billy Andrade
Jon Curran Brooke Henderson Brad Faxon
Tony Finau Cristie Kerr Jay Haas
Bill Haas Gerina Piller Bernhard Langer
Billy Horschel Morgan Pressel Colin Montgomorie
Smylie Kaufman Lexi Thompson Mark O’Meara

In addition to the golf tournament, the CVS Health Charity Classic, which has donated more than $20 million dollars to area non-profits since 1999, will continue its tradition of giving back to the Southern New England community with a series of events, including:

  • Crave RI a two-day, family-friendly culinary celebration featuring Rhode Island’s and Massachusetts’ finest with 80 restaurants and more than 100 beer and wine profiles. Enjoy sample tastings from Matunuck Oyster Bar, Gracie’s, Newport Vineyards, Narragansett Beer and many more at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in downtown Providence on June 15-16. All proceeds from the inaugural event will support charitable organizations across Southern New England. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com/CharityClassic, all Ticketmaster outlets, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center box office or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
  • Pepsi Celebrity Pro-Am The CVS Health Charity Classic has partnered up with New England sports teams to bring celebrity athletes to the Charity Classic on Sunday, June 18th at the Rhode Island Country Club. The Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox will all be represented at the first ever Pepsi Celebrity Pro-Am. Admission to the event is FREE.
  • Community Day What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with free admission to Community Day on Sunday, June 18th? Enjoy the picturesque Rhode Island Country Club while taking in great golf and a number of other activities including interactive and engaging programs at health and wellness stations.
  • Path To Better Health A walking path around the golf course that features interactive health and wellness stations, the Path to Better Health encourages fans to participate in fun, educational and interactive health-focused activities as they walk around the golf course at Rhode Island Country Club.

“The focus of the CVS Health Charity Classic has always been to give back to our local community,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Tournament Chairwoman, CVS Health Charity Classic. “The addition of Crave RI and the inclusion of celebrity athletes provide a great opportunity for the Southern New England region to come together to support the meaningful work being done by non-profits that are providing assistance to those that need it the most.”

The CVS Health Charity Classic will again be honoring veterans by offering complimentary admission to Rhode Island Country Club for the golf tournament for all active, reserve and retired Military Service Members and their dependents. Veterans can simply present a valid Common Access Card or Retired Military Card at the gate. First responders and their families also receive free admission with a valid ID.

Single day tickets for the 2017 CVS Health Charity Classic are now on sale at ticketmaster.com/CharityClassic for $10 each. Children 17 and under are free with a ticketed adult. For additional information on tickets, fans can call 866-CVS-9441 or visit cvshealthcharityclassic.com.

About the CVS Health Charity Classic
The CVS Health Charity Classic is Rhode Island’s largest charitable event series and hosts some of the best PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR Champions professionals in the world. Since its inception in 1999, the CVS Health Charity Classic has donated more than $20 million to charities around the region, providing vital funding for a variety of critical programs serving children, families and people in transition throughout Southern New England. For more information, visit cvshealthcharityclassic.com.

CONTACT:
Patti O’Donnell
patti.odonnell@comcast.net
773-680-4701

SOURCE: CVS Health Charity Classic

CVS Health Foundation supports Free and Charitable Clinics with more than $1 million in grants

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Apr-04 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Foundation today (April 3, 2017) announced more than $1 million in grants to 33 Free and Charitable Clinics as part of a multi-year grant program with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC). Over the past four years, the Foundation has donated nearly $5 million to NAFC to increase access to quality care and support the management of chronic disease.

“As a pharmacy innovation company, we are committed to helping people on their path to better health in the communities where we live and work,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “Our support for the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics has yielded significant results over the past four years that demonstrate how increased access to quality care and innovative approaches to chronic disease management can affect the lives of the most vulnerable Americans.”

New results released today by the CVS Health Foundation demonstrate how the support of previous grant recipients is making a meaningful impact on their goals of improving care coordination, managing chronic conditions and increasing access to care. Critical results from the past year include:

  • SLO Noor Foundation (San Luis Obispo, CA) offered one extra day of services per week, providing care to an additional 241 patients that would otherwise not have been able to receive such necessary care in 2016.
  • Through their smoking cessation classes, 70% of participants at the Miami Rescue Mission (Miami, FL) reported either quitting or significantly cutting back the use of tobacco.
  • Good News Clinics (Gainesville, GA) recruited 22 additional physicians to expand availability of services for Health Access patients surpassing their goal of 10 and thereby lessening the wait time for patients requiring specialty care.

“The NAFC is extremely grateful for the support our members receive from the CVS Health Foundation and their recognition of the life saving work Free and Charitable Clinics provide to the medically underserved throughout this country,” said Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC CEO. “Their unwavering commitment and investment over the years has allowed our Free and Charitable Clinics to expand health care access, coordinate health care efforts and build healthier communities.”

As the need for access to affordable care and improved health outcomes continue to weigh on the U.S. health care system, the CVS Health Foundation will be providing grants, ranging from $20,000 to $35,000, this year to the following NAFC recipients in support of chronic disease management and prevention for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and asthma, improved care coordination and increased access to care programs:

  • Arlington Free Clinic (Arlington, VA) – $35,000
  • Cape Volunteers in Medicine, Inc. (Cape May Court House, NJ) – $30,000
  • Catherine’s Health Center (Grand Rapids, MI) – $35,000
  • Center for Family Health & Education, Inc. (Panorama City, CA) – $35,000
  • Clearwater Free Clinic, Inc. (Clearwater, FL) – $35,000
  • Community Care Clinic (Boone, NC) – $35,000
  • Community Care Clinic of Rowan County (Salisbury, NC) – $20,000
  • Community Health Center of West Palm Beach (West Palm Beach, FL) – $30,000
  • CommunityHealth (Chicago, IL) – $35,000
  • Cornerstone Assistance Network (Fort Worth, TX) – $35,000
  • Free Clinic of Central Virginia (Lynchburg, VA) – $35,000
  • Free Clinic of Meridian, Inc. (Meridian, MS) – $35,000
  • Good News Clinics (Gainesville, GA) – $35,000
  • Health Brigade (Richmond, VA) – $35,000
  • Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center (Columbus, OH) – $35,000
  • Hope Health Clinic (La Grange, KY) – $35,000
  • Johnstown Free Medical Clinic (Johnstown, PA) – $25,000
  • Lake Norman Community Health Clinic (Huntersville, NC) – $35,000
  • Malta House of Care, Inc. (Hartford, CT) – $35,000
  • Martin Luther King Health Center & Pharmacy (Shreveport, LA) – $30,000
  • Northern Neck Middlesex Free Health Clinic (Kilmarnock, VA) – $35,000
  • NovaScripts Central, Inc. (Falls Church, VA) – $35,000
  • Ohio Association of Free Clinics (Columbus, OH) – $35,000
  • People’s Health Clinic (Park City, UT) – $20,000
  • Shelter Health Services (Charlotte, NC) – $25,000
  • St. Martin’s Healthcare, Inc. (Garrett, IN) – $35,000
  • St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy (Cincinnati, OH) – $35,000
  • St. Vincent de Paul Virginia G. Piper Medical & Dental Clinic (Phoenix, AZ) – $35,000
  • The Free Medical Clinic, Inc. (Columbia, SC) – $25,000
  • The Night Ministry (Chicago, IL) – $35,000
  • The Olympia Free Clinic (Olympia, WA) – $20,000
  • TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries (Tomball, TX) – $35,000
  • Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga, Inc. (Chattanooga, TN) – $35,000

For more information on how the Free and Charitable Clinics will be utilizing their grants to improve community health, please visit www.cvshealth.com/NAFC.

About the CVS Health Foundation
The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

Media Contact:
Mary Alfieri
mary.alfieri@cvshealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

CVS Health Charity Classic expands its 2017 Event Series with Crave RI food festival

CVS Health Charity Classic expands its 2017 Event Series with Crave RI food festival

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Apr-04 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Charity Classic announced today (April 3, 2017) it has added a two-day family friendly, food festival that will kick off the Charity Classic event series. The inaugural event, appropriately named, Crave RI, will take place the evenings of Thursday, June 15th and Friday, June 16th at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in downtown Providence.

Hosting the event in the heart of downtown Providence, families and foodies alike will be able to experience the Charity Classic in a new, fun and filling way.

“The CVS Health Charity Classic has been a staple in the Southeastern New England area for the last 18 years, bringing together non-profits, professional golfers and the local community,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Tournament Chairwoman, CVS Health Charity Classic. “By adding Crave RI to the event series, even more individuals and families can take part in this great event by enjoying the Rhode Island culinary culture and helping to give back to those in need locally.”

This year’s Crave RI event will support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to help reduce food insecurity in the state. According to the USDA, 12 percent of households in Rhode Island struggle to meet their basic food needs, leading to an increased risk for health problems.

Over the two-day event, more than 80 of Rhode Island’s top restaurants and 100 beer and wine profiles will sample their products each night, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The event will run Thursday and Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. preceding the golf portion of the CVS Health Charity Classic.

Crave RI will feature premier restaurants and brands from the region including Gracie’s, Sam Adams, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Newport Vineyards, Milk Money, Duck and Bunny, Narragansett Brewing Co. and many more. Additional restaurant, brewery, and vineyard announcements will follow.

“We’re excited to be a part of the CVS Health Charity Classic event series,” said Perry Raso, owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, Matunuck Oyster Farm and Matunuck Vegetable Farm. “We feel as though Crave RI is a great opportunity for us to showcase Matunuck Oyster Bar’s Pond to Plate concept while continuing to build on our connection with the local community and charities alike.”

Daily tickets to Crave RI are $20 each, plus applicable fees, and can be purchased online (www.ticketmaster.com/CharityClassic), by phone (1.800.745.3000) or at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office. Each ticket provides access to food and beverage samples from participating restaurants, breweries and wineries, and demonstrations from chefs. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 5th.

The CVS Health Charity Classic has donated more than $20 million to area non-profits since 1999. For more information, please visit www.cvshealthcharityclassic.com.

About CVS Health Charity Classic

The CVS Health Charity Classic is one of Rhode Island’s largest charitable event series, including a golf tournament featuring some of the world’s top professional golfers and a two-day food festival highlighting local restaurants, breweries, and vineyards. Since its inception in 1999, the Charity Classic has raised more than $20 million for Southern New England nonprofit organizations that provide vital funding to a range of programs serving children and families. For additional information on the CVS Health Charity Classic, please visit www.cvshealthcharityclassic.com. Follow the Charity Classic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on the event as they happen.

About Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Dunkin’ Donuts Center, a 14,000 seat entertainment venue, is managed by SMG. Celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming; construction and design consulting; and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com.

Contact:

Jordan Borrosh
Account Executive
Octagon
Jordan.borrosh@octagon.com
401-835-4482

SOURCE: CVS Health Charity Classic

###

CVS Health launches second year of its five year commitment to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Mar-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today announced it will fund $10 million in new and expanded partnerships and programs to launch the second year of Be The First, the company’s five year, $50 million commitment to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. The partnerships and programs will roll out throughout 2017 and build upon the success of the first year in the areas of anti-smoking education, tobacco-control advocacy, and healthy behavior programming.

“Tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, yet 2,100 youth and young adults still become daily cigarette smokers,” said Troyen Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health. “CVS Health recognizes that by bringing together experts in the public health community and aggressively implementing strategies to reduce tobacco use, we have the opportunity to deliver the first tobacco-free generation.”

Be The First was introduced in March 2016 and is directed at youth and young adults who currently smoke or are at risk of becoming regular tobacco users; the country’s 3 million elementary school children who, without early tobacco education, may become future tobacco users; and adult smokers who expose children to tobacco use. Since launching the initiative, CVS Health has reached nearly 5 million young people with anti-smoking programming and has helped 20 colleges and universities pursue 100% smoke-and tobacco-free campus policies.

“In the year since we introduced Be The First, we’ve seen very good progress, but we know there is much more to be done in schools, on college campuses and in our communities,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re pleased to sustain this momentum by expanding partnerships with best-in-class organizations and identifying new partners that will bring the expertise needed to move us one step closer to the first tobacco-free generation.”

Helping Our Kids “Kick Butts”

As part of the CVS Health Foundation’s five year, $5 million commitment to support the efforts of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the CVS Health Foundation is funding a new online training program with courses to train youth and adults to become tobacco prevention ambassadors. These courses are focused on how tobacco affects youth, including the growing availability of candy-flavored e-cigarettes and cigars, and ways for people to advocate for tobacco-free communities. The announcement of this new resource coincides this week with Kick Butts Day on March 15, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and mobilize their communities in fighting tobacco use.

“CVS Health has shown tremendous leadership in helping people lead tobacco-free lives by bringing the public health and private sector communities together to work on this public health crisis,” said Matthew L. Myers, president, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and member of CVS Health’s Be The First national advisory council. “We look forward to continuing to work with CVS Health to improve the lives of America’s children and young adults and win the fight against tobacco for good.”

Promoting Tobacco-Free College Campuses

As part of Be The First, CVS Health set actionable and measurable goals, including a doubling of the number of tobacco-free educational institutions in the United States. In 2017, the CVS Health Foundation and American Cancer Society will continue to help accelerate the number of colleges and universities that advocate for, adopt and implement a 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus policy by supporting more than 50 new schools in their tobacco control efforts. Interested schools can apply online at www.cancer.org/tfgci.

This spring, the CVS Health Foundation and Truth Initiative, the national public health organization that leads truth, the nation’s largest youth tobacco prevention campaign, will announce an expanded partnership to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges across the country adopt 100% tobacco-free policies. This effort is especially relevant because African-American and low-income communities have been the target of tobacco industry marketing for decades.

Raising Awareness Across Communities

To increase awareness and advocacy in the communities it serves, CVS Health and the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE are teaming up in the fight against tobacco to win the battle against lung cancer. The campaign, which will launch in May, will give customers an easy way to spread tobacco-free messaging in their communities and take advantage of tobacco-free resources for their towns, schools and public areas.

Delivering Smoking Cessation Services to Cancer Patients

CVS Health is also continuing its focus on supporting community-based cessation programs for adult smokers, who cause damage to their own health, as well as expose children to tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Later this year, Later this year, the CVS Health Foundation, through a partnership with the National Cancer Institute, will invest nearly $1 million to address smoking cessation in the oncology setting across several of the nation’s leading cancer hospitals.

Be The First is funded through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, and comprises comprehensive anti-smoking education, tobacco control advocacy and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations uniquely positioned to tackle this public health challenge. For more program information, visit www.cvshealth.com/bethefirst.

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

About the CVS Health Foundation
The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

Media Contact: Mary Alfieri, mary.alfieri@cvscaremark.com, 401-770-9811

SOURCE CVS Health

Breathe California and CVS Health announce Anti-Tobacco Video Contest finalists

SACRAMENTO, Calif., 2017-Feb-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Student filmmakers from high schools and middle schools across the state received regional honors in the third annual Anti-Tobacco Video Contest for the Public Service Announcements (PSA) produced to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco. The contest, organized by Breathe California as part of a $100,000 grant from CVS Health, invited middle- and high-school students in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco to submit a PSA video on their vision of the first tobacco-free generation.

Statewide winners will be announced on Saturday, February 25 in Sacramento as part of the Breathe Youth Media Awards, a unique youth choice awards program that aims to engage teens in anti-tobacco initiatives, such as rating tobacco use in popular movies, and educational opportunities around the dangers of smoking and e-cigarettes.

“The PSA videos are a great way for students to have conversations about the dangers of tobacco with their teachers and peers in their own words and to imagine what the first tobacco-free generation will look like,” said Kori Titus, CEO, Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails. “We are very grateful to CVS Health for their support and leadership in helping to deliver the first tobacco-free generation.”

Of the 50 entries submitted for the contest, the following middle- and high-school level PSAs were chosen as regional finalists and have been entered into the statewide Breathe Youth Media Awards:

  • Naveet Khaira, Jasminder Mann, Jennifer Roberts; Christian Brothers High School (Sacramento)
  • Matt Grossman, Josh Davis, Ben Vechter, Gabrielle Ferraro, Vincent Seyford, Derek Gale; Rio Americano High School (Sacramento)
  • Tasneem Imbabi, Bella Simanhadi, Juliette Lopez, Anna Gorban, Kaitlyn Valdez; Gold River Discovery Center (Gold River)
  • Liron Day, Manan Chopra; Dublin High School (Dublin)
  • Sophie Azriel; Sunnyvale Middle School (Sunnyvale)
  • Carlos Martinez, Elida Hernandez, Alondra Hernandez, Marvin Segovia, Mikhael Torres, Pedro Hernandez, Juliana Rodriguez, Afram Malki, Bryant Torres, Xochill Navarro, Leslie Morales, Alondra Hernande; Robert Fulton College Preparatory School (Van Nuys)
  • Lorcan McSharp, John Lamm, Alex Kong; Northgate High School (Walnut Creek)
  • Courtney Villasenor, Donovan Toney, Savanna Soto, Samantha De Alba, Alisa Moran, Logan Torosian, Angela Wesson, Nicholas Jackson, Alondra Carrillo, Esperanza Ayon, Leslie Alonso; McKee Middle School (Bakersfield)

CVS Health’s support for Breathe California affiliates is part of Be The First, the company’s five-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the first tobacco-free generation and extend the company’s commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives. With support and funding through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, Be The First supports comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming delivered by a group of best-in-class partner organizations.

“Tobacco use, especially among our youth, is one of the most pressing public health issues that we face today,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health. “We’re proud to support Breathe California whose mission is to promote a tobacco-free generation and we look forward to continuing our work with them to harness the passion of young people to make an impact on the issues they care about.”

In addition to the PSA contest, the grant provided by CVS Health will help each of the Breathe chapters expand their youth prevention training and education programming. Throughout the state, the Breathe affiliates will work to reduce the impact of lung disease through prevention, education, advocacy and patient services, as well as help to shape policies that support a healthier and safer California. To view the winning local PSAs, please visit http://bit.ly/2lQdheJ.

For more information about Be The First and CVS Health’s commitment to tobacco-free living, please visit www.cvshealth.com/bethefirst.

About CVS Health

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:

Mary Alfieri
CVS Health
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health

CVS Health Research Institute study emphasizes the role a private retailer can play in restricting access to tobacco

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Feb-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Newly published research from the CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) Research Institute emphasizes the role a private retailer can play in restricting access to tobacco and improving public health. The study, published online today (Feb. 16, 2017 ) in the American Journal of Public Health, showed that the Company’s decision to remove tobacco from all CVS Pharmacy stores reduced the number of cigarette purchases across all retail settings with an even greater impact on those who bought cigarettes exclusively at CVS Pharmacy. The research confirms and expands upon initial impact data released on the one-year anniversary of the Company’s removal of cigarettes and other tobacco products from its retail stores.

“When we removed tobacco from our shelves, a significant number of our customers simply stopped buying and hopefully smoking cigarettes altogether instead of just altering their cigarette purchasing habits,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health and an author of the study. “This research proves that our decision had a powerful public health impact by disrupting access to cigarettes and helping more of our customers on their path to better health.”

The study assessed the impact of CVS Health’s discontinuation of tobacco sales by analyzing data from a nationally representative survey of consumers’ cigarette purchasing behavior at drug, food, big box, dollar, convenience and gas station retailers prior to and one year following the Company’s decision. While the Company’s decision reduced cigarette purchases across all retail settings, those who purchased cigarettes exclusively at CVS Pharmacy were 38 percent more likely to stop buying cigarettes, and those who purchased three or more packs per month were more than twice as likely to stop buying cigarettes altogether.

“CVS Health’s decision to end tobacco sales has had a substantial and measurable impact on improving our nation’s health,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “These newly published results make it increasingly untenable for responsible retailers especially those that provide health care services to continue selling tobacco products. We also urge parents and other consumers concerned about health to patronize retailers that don’t sell tobacco products, such as those on our website, www.ShopTobaccoFree.org.”

Following CVS Health’s decision to exit tobacco in 2014, the company has extended its commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives through increased smoking cessation resources and a focus on youth tobacco use and prevention. In 2016, CVS Health announced Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the first tobacco-free generation. With support and funding through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, Be The First supports comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming delivered in concert with a group of national partner organizations.

“Tobacco use, especially among our youth, is one of the most pressing public health issues that we face today,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health, and President of the CVS Health Foundation. “While smoking rates among children and adults have declined over the past decade, approximately 36.5 million adults still smoke and 3,200 people under age 18 smoke their first cigarette every day. Reducing tobacco use continues to be a public health priority, which we are committed to addressing.”

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year, $170 billion in medical costs and $156 billion in lost productivity. For more information on CVS Health’s commitment to tobacco-free living, visit www.CVSHealth.com/BeTheFirst.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Contacts:

Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
(401) 770-8868
christina.beckerman@cvshealth.com

Mary Alfieri
CVS Health
(401) 770-8078
mary.alfieri@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

CVS Health Charity Classic reaches $20 million in philanthropic support to Southeastern New England nonprofits since 1999

CVS Health Charity Classic reaches $20 million in philanthropic support to Southeastern New England nonprofits since 1999

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Dec-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — At a celebration today (December 20, 2016) at the corporate headquarters of CVS Health, President and CEO Larry Merlo announced that the CVS Health Charity Classic has reached an important milestone a total of $20 million dollars in philanthropic support to hundreds of nonprofits in Southeastern New England since the event series’ inception in 1999. This year, the CVS Health Charity Classic donated more than $1 million dollars to nearly 100 area charities.

“The CVS Health Charity Classic has an 18-year history of supporting the meaningful work being done by nonprofits in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” Merlo said. “We are proud to reach this major milestone in donations made that enables us to give back to those who need it most in the areas of health care, education and social services.”

Merlo along with tournament chairperson Eileen Howard Boone and PGA Tour professionals and CVS Health Charity Classic co-chairs Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon unveiled this year’s donation to the nonprofit recipients and working charities that volunteered their time during the tournament in front of CVS Health colleagues and CVS Health Charity Classic sponsors.

Tim Wakefield, former Boston Red Sox pitcher, was on-hand to discuss how the tournament has supported the Boston Red Sox Foundation over the years.

“Support from the CVS Health Charity Classic has been instrumental in allowing us to fulfill our mission of serving the health, education, recreation and social service needs of children and families across New England,” Wakefield said. “We are grateful for our partnership and look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”

In addition to the Boston Red Sox Foundation, 90 nonprofits from Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts will also benefit from the CVS Health Charity Classic, including:

  1. Adopt-a-Family
  2. After Prom Barrington, Barrington High School Parents’ Association
  3. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
  4. American Diabetes Association of New England
  5. American Heart Association
  6. American Lung Association of the Northeast
  7. American National Red Cross
  8. Amos House
  9. Arthritis Foundation, New England Region, Inc.
  10. Autism Project
  11. Barrington Arts Alive!
  12. Barrington Community School
  13. Barrington Education Foundation
  14. Barrington Public Library
  15. Bayside YMCA
  16. Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy
  17. BOKS, Build Our Kids Success
  18. Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket
  19. Boys & Girls Club of Taunton
  20. Boys & Girls Club of Woonsocket
  21. Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
  22. Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island
  23. Children’s Friend
  24. Children’s Wish Group of Rhode Island
  25. Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Barrington
  26. City Year Providence
  27. College Visions
  28. Community Preparatory School
  29. Confetti Foundation
  30. Crossroads Rhode Island
  31. Day One
  32. Economic Progress Institute
  33. Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital
  34. Farm Fresh Rhode Island (Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition)
  35. Friends of Barrington Senior Center, Inc
  36. Gaits of Harmony
  37. Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England
  38. Girls on the Run
  39. Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
  40. Golf Fights Cancer
  41. Golf Foundation of RI Button Hole
  42. Hasbro Children’s Hospital
  43. Highlander Charter School
  44. Hockomock Area YMCA
  45. Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
  46. Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island
  47. Inspiring Minds
  48. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of RI
  49. Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
  50. Learning Center for the Deaf Inc
  51. March of Dimes
  52. Meeting Street
  53. Morgan Pressel Foundation
  54. Museum of Work and Culture
  55. Narragansett Council, Boys Scouts of America
  56. Ocean Conservancy
  57. Old Colony Habitat for Humanity
  58. Our Sisters’ School
  59. PeaceLove Foundation
  60. Plan RI
  61. Project Undercover, Inc.
  62. Providence After School Alliance (PASA)
  63. Providence Children’s Museum
  64. Resilient Kids
  65. Rhode Island Community Food Bank
  66. Rhode Island Hospital Foundation/Richard Browning Center Research Fund
  67. Rhode Island Parent Information Network
  68. Rhode Island Public Radio
  69. Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education
  70. Ronald McDonald House of Providence
  71. Salute Military Golf Association
  72. Salvation Army
  73. San Miguel Education Center
  74. Save the Bay
  75. Serve Rhode Island
  76. Sojourner House
  77. Special Olympics Rhode Island
  78. Spurwink | RI
  79. Stadium Theatre Foundation
  80. Tap In
  81. The Learning Community Charter School
  82. The Providence Center
  83. Tides Family Services
  84. URI Foundation – Golf Team
  85. Wolf School
  86. Women’s Center of Rhode Island
  87. Woonsocket Rotary Charities Foundation Inc.
  88. Woonsocket Schools
  89. Year Up
  90. Youth Pride Inc.

“Over the past 18 years, Brad and I have witnessed firsthand how much of an impact the CVS Health Charity Classic has made on hundreds of nonprofits in this region,” said Andrade. “We are incredibly thankful for the role the tournament’s success has played in improving the lives of those in our hometown community.”

The 2017 CVS Health Charity Classic, which attracts world-class golfers each year and is the largest charitable sporting event in Rhode Island, will kick off on June 18, 2017 at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, R.I.

For photos and videos from today’s event and updates throughout the year, follow @CVSClassicGolf on Twitter and like CVS Health Charity Classic on Facebook.

About the CVS Health Charity Classic
The CVS Health Charity Classic is Rhode Island’s largest charitable sporting event and hosts some of the best PGA and LPGA professional golfers in the world. Funds generated by the tournament, launched in 1999, are distributed to area nonprofit organizations that provide vital funding to a range of programs serving children, families and people in transition throughout Southeastern New England.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:
Mary Alfieri
CVS Health Corporate Communications
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com
401-770-9811 (O)

SOURCE: CVS Health Charity Classic

CVS Health to partner with Y-USA to help cancer survivors and those at risk of diabetes

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Sep-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health today ( September 12, 2016) announced that it has partnered with the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to help expand two programs that provide critical support to people across the country: the Diabetes Prevention Program and the nationally recognized LIVESTRONG Foundation at the YMCA program.

“At CVS Health, we’re focused on providing resources and services that empower patients to manage their health in more affordable and effective ways,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health. “We’re proud to partner with Y-USA to help both cancer survivors and those at risk of diabetes on their path to better health whether it’s helping them learn healthy eating habits or improving their physical and emotional well-being.”

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a group-based lifestyle intervention for adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Through a 12-month evidence-based plan, the program has been successful in reducing the number of new cases of diabetes by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a 12-week evidence-based program that focuses on best practices for physical activity and well-being initiatives for cancer survivors. The program empowers adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase their quality of life through an organized program of fitness and strength offered in a supportive, small-group setting.

“As a leading community-based organization committed to improving America’s health, our goal is to provide everyone access to initiatives like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program and the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program,” said Dr. Matt Longjohn, National Health Officer, Y-USA. “Through the generosity of CVS Health, local YMCAs will be able to provide free access to services for diabetes patients and cancer survivors, who may not otherwise be able to participate in these valuable support programs.”

Ten local chapters across the U.S. will receive a 2016-2017 Participation Support Grant from the Y-USA and CVS Health to support the Diabetes Prevention Program in the following areas:

  • Birmingham Metropolitan YMCA (AL)
  • Florida’s First Coast YMCA (FL)
  • YMCA of the Capital Area (LA)
  • YMCA of Central Ohio (OH)
  • YMCA of Greater Dayton (OH)
  • YMCA of Memphis and The Mid-South (TN)
  • Houston Texans YMCA (TX)
  • Central Coast YMCA (CA)
  • YMCA of Wichita (KS)
  • YMCA of Delaware (DE)

An additional ten chapters will receive a 2016-2017 Participation Support Grant from Y-USA, in partnership with CVS Health and the LIVESTRONG Foundation. These grants will help boost participation and provide more cancer survivors with access to the program in the following areas:

  • YMCA of San Diego County (CA)
  • Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA (FL)
  • Golden Corridor Family YMCA (IL)
  • YMCA of Central Massachusetts (MA)
  • YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (MI)
  • YMCA of Capital District (NY)
  • YMCA of Greater Cincinnati (OH)
  • Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA (PA)
  • YMCA of Greater San Antonio (TX)
  • West Orem Family YMCA (TX)

About the Y
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children regardless of age, income or background to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Alfieri
CVS Health
401-770-9811
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com

Kevin Dietz
YMCA of the USA
312-419-8418
media@ymca.net

SOURCE: CVS Health

American Cancer Society and CVS Health announce $3.6 million initiative to expand the number of 100% tobacco-free colleges in United States

Atlanta, GA, 2016-May-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — The American Cancer Society (ACS) and CVS Health today announced a three-year, $3.6 million initiative to provide grants to 125 institutions of higher learning to help accelerate and expand the number of 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free college and university campuses throughout the United States.

The partnership creates the Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative, part of a nationwide effort to deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. With funding from the CVS Health Foundation, ACS will award grants to colleges and universities in 19 states with the greatest need for stronger smoke-free campus policies to help them take a comprehensive approach to implement tobacco-free campus policies, including cessation, education and support. Twenty-five grants will be awarded in the first year and 50 will be given out in each of the second and third years.

“The American Cancer Society and CVS Health are targeting an important age group at a critical time to improve public health for generations to come,” said Howard Koh, former Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and current professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, Director of the Leading Change Studio at the Harvard School of Public Health. “It is a great example of how public-private partnerships can aggressively move one step closer to a tobacco-free generation.”

The 19 states targeted by the program are Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

The ACS initiative is part of Be The First, CVS Health’s newly announced five-year, $50 million campaign that uses education, advocacy, tobacco control, and healthy behavior programming to tackle tobacco use, the number one cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and deliver the first tobacco-free generation. In 2014, CVS Health became the first national pharmacy chain to eliminate the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from its stores.

“This partnership with CVS Health allows us to help make campuses tobacco-free using proven strategies that will reduce smoking and tobacco use rates among this population,” said Cliff Douglas, vice president for tobacco control and head of the American Cancer Society’s Center for Tobacco Control. “Creating a tobacco-free generation is a lofty goal, and reaching it requires a broad spectrum of strategies targeting multiple audiences. To be successful, it is imperative to prevent and stop smoking among college students.”

The data are clear that college age is a critical time to reach young smokers and those who may begin smoking and using tobacco:

  • Based on current rates, more than 1 million current college students are projected to die from tobacco use in their lifetime. An estimated 5.6 million children alive today will die early from smoking if more is not done to reduce youth smoking rates in the U.S.
  • More than 3,800 kids under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette each day, and 2,100 youth and young adults become regular daily smokers.
  • About 90 percent of smokers start by the time they are college age and 99 percent start by age 26, according to a 2012 U.S. Surgeon General’s report.

Despite these statistics, only 1,483 of the 4,700 U.S. college and university campuses—fewer than one in three—are completely smoke-free, and only one in four (1,137) are completely tobacco-free, according to data compiled by the Americans for Nonsmoker Rights.

The barriers for colleges and universities to implement tobacco-free campuses often simply come down to the costs amid other financial constraints. Those costs include resources to develop and implement the tobacco-free plan, associated educational and other collateral materials, and smoking cessation offerings to help students and faculty quit tobacco.

Research has shown smoke-free policies curb campus smoking. Indiana University became a tobacco-free campus in 2008 and reduced smoking prevalence from 16.5 percent in 2007 to 12.8 percent in 2009. University of Michigan became tobacco-free in 2011, and after 11 months, the smoking rate dropped from 6 percent to 4 percent.

“Creating smoke-free campuses will move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy for CVS Health, and President of the CVS Health Foundation.  “Together with ACS, we can help ensure college-age youth stay tobacco-free through campus policies, increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use, and it is through partnerships like this one that we will be successful.”

The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates.

Thanks in part to our progress, 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air and more.

For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

CONTACT:
American Cancer Society: Charaighn Sesock, 559.972.4877,charaighn.sesock@cancer.org

CVS Health: Joe Goode, 401.770.9820, jlgoode@cvs.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

CVS Health Foundation announces $1.5 million new grants to 46 community health centers and free clinics for 2016

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Apr-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of a multi-year, $5 million commitment to increase access to health care in communities nationwide, the CVS Health Foundation today released new data from programs supported through partnerships with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). The Foundation also announced $1.5 million in new grants distributed to 46 community health centers and free clinics for 2016.

“As a pharmacy innovation company, we are committed to helping people on their path to better health by increasing access to care and supporting innovative approaches to chronic disease management through our Health in Action grants,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “Our partnerships with NAFC and NACHC are focused on addressing the critical need for more accessible, coordinated health care in communities across the country and we’re proud to support programs that are improving outcomes and lowering overall health care costs.”

In April 2015, the CVS Health Foundation announced a total of 55 grant recipients that have since made meaningful progress toward their goals of improving care coordination, managing chronic conditions and increasing access to care. Critical results from the Foundation funding include:

  • The Free Clinic of Central Virginia (Lynchburg, VA) reduced their average patient waiting time between receiving a referral and comprehensive services from 30 days to 10 days. The Clinic was also able to reduce the number of hospitalizations for COPD by 51 percent, surpassing their original goal of 33 percent.
  • St. Mary’s Health Wagon (Wise, VA) saw a blood pressure reduction in 66 percent of their patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus, which surpassed their initial goal of 50 percent.
  • Community Care Clinic of Rowan County (Salisbury, NC) saw 86 percent of participants in their smoking cessation program completely quit smoking which far surpasses the original goal of 15 percent.
  • Fifty one percent of the participants in the Corpus Christi (TX) Metro Ministries’smoking cessation program have reduced tobacco use.
  • As a result of the Cornerstone Assistance Network’s (Fort Worth, TX) program that raises awareness about how to prevent Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy through diabetes management, 32 percent of program patients showed a 10 percent or more decrease of hemoglobin A1C, a measure of blood glucose levels, surpassing their 20 percent goal.

New 2016 Grants
As a continuation of these critical community health partnerships, the CVS Health Foundation today announced a total of $1.5 million in new grants in support of chronic disease management and prevention, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and asthma, improved care coordination and increased access to care to the following NACHC and NAFC recipient organizations across the country.

Arizona$35,000

Phoenix Allies for Community Health (Phoenix, AZ), in support of its quality care coordination project.

California$310,000

Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA), in support of a diabetes care management initiative that will improve outcomes for patients.

La Clinica de La Raza, Inc. (Oakland, CA), in support of a health coaching initiative for chronic disease management.

LifeLong Medical Care (Berkeley, CA), in support of implementing an organization-wide approach to panel management for adult patients with heart failure.

Salud Para la Gente (Watsonville, CA), in support of health education and case management for diabetes patients.

St. John’s Well Child and Family Center (Los Angeles, CA), in support of integrating a home visitation and case management model into the primary care setting for pediatric asthma patients.

SLO Noor Foundation (San Luis Obispo, CA), in support of expanding clinic services to one extra day per week.

San Francisco Free Clinic (San Francisco, CA), in support of added medical personnel to staff a full service evening clinic.

Connecticut$50,000

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation (New Haven, CT), in support of a staff education program and additional medical equipment.

Florida$70,000

Grace Medical Home (Orlando, FL), in support of hiring a part-time nurse practitioner who will help manage its care coordination referral program.

Miami Rescue Mission Clinic, Inc. (Miami, FL), in support of a new program that will treat patients through a personalized care approach.

Georgia$35,000

Good News Clinics (Gainesville, GA), in support of enhanced access to services for patients who previously did not have the resources to receive the care necessary.

Illinois $60,000

Tri City Health Partnership (St. Charles, IL), in support of a coordinated chronic care initiative that will include medical treatment, medications and supplies, comprehensive health education, monitoring and documented health outcomes.

Community Health Care Clinic (Normal, IL), in support of the Mobile Health Project that will be accessible to medically under-served people.

Indiana$20,000

Franciscan Alliance Foundation (Hammond, IN), in support of a diabetes prevention program that will select pre-diabetes patients to work with a trained lifestyle coach.

Louisiana$35,000

Martin Luther King Health Center & Pharmacy (Shreveport, LA), in support of a program that will decrease diabetes and cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations.

Massachusetts $50,000

Charles River Community Health (Allston, MA), in support of an expanded complex care management program to support high-risk patients managing hypertension.

Michigan$85,000

Health Intervention Services (Grand Rapids, MI), in support of the creation of a new system that measures outcomes for the services it provides.

Thunder Bay Community Health Service, Inc. (Hillman, MI), in support of an asthma care management program.

Minnesota$35,000

CARE Clinic (Red Wing, MN), in support of the uninsured and low-income residents inGoodhue County that lack sufficient resources to manage their chronic illness.

Mississippi$35,000

Fellowship Health Clinic (Hattiesburg, MS), in support of expanded services to include medical care to more residents whose health is most greatly impacted by lack of health access, education, and care.

Missouri $35,000

Kansas City CARE Clinic (Kansas City, MO), in support of its intensive dietary management program that will target patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

New Jersey$30,000

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (Hackensack, NJ), in support of a diabetes care and education program.

New York$68,466

Anthony L. Jordan Health Corporation (Rochester, NY), in support of a hypertension program that will address medication management, depression, diet, exercise and stress reduction.

Ithaca Health Alliance, Inc. (Ithaca, NY), in support of an integrative medicine pilot project using the chronic care model.

North Carolina$115,000

MERCI Clinic, Inc. (New Bern, NC), in support of increasing positive intervention and outcome capacity for chronic diseases.

Shelter Health Services, Inc. (Charlotte, NC), in support of averting diabetes onset in at-risk homeless women.

Community Free Clinic, Inc. (Concord, NC), in support of a new medical home for low income uninsured adults diagnosed with chronic health conditions who have an emergency department or inpatient hospitalization.

Mustard Seed Community Health (Greensboro, NC), in support of asthma, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease programs.

Ohio $100,000

North Coast Health (Lakewood, OH), in support of expanding its chronic illness management program.

Lake County Free Clinic (Painesville, OH), in support of expanding its services to facilitate walk-in patients.

Reach Out of Montgomery County (Dayton, OH), in support of a care coordination program that supports the health care systems to achieve better health outcomes.

Pennsylvania$135,000

Free Clinic Association of PA (West Chester, PA), in support of a new project that will utilize motivational interviewing to improve health outcomes for patients living with chronic disease.

Sheep Inc. Health Care Center (Monroeville, PA), in support of a second clinic that will give expanded access to patients.

The University of Scranton (Scranton, PA), in support of an initiative to manage, reduce or eliminate risk factors of patients who suffer from diabetes, obesity and/or hypertension through healthy lifestyle modifications.

Hope Within Ministries, Inc. (Elizabethtown, PA), in support of increased access to primary health care and low-cost mental health counsel services.

Texas$95,000

First Refuge Ministries (Denton, TX), in support of its diabetes prevention program to help Hispanic, non-English speaking families understand their risk for diabetes, learn ways to lower these risk factors, and avoid the onset of diabetes.

Volunteer Healthcare Clinic (Austin, TX), in support of its chronic disease management program that provides comprehensive care to individuals suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

San Jose Clinic (Houston, TX), in support of a care coordination program for the uninsured.

Virginia$70,000

Loudoun Free Clinic (Leesburg, VA), in support of a care coordination program that can help save lives, resources, and time and ensures dependable linkages between social and medical services for low-income residents of Loudoun County.

CrossOver Healthcare Ministry (Richmond, VA), in support of the Community Pharmacy Expansion Project that will address the need for improved access to affordable medications in Richmond.

Washington, D.C. $33,170

Whitman Walker Clinic, Inc., in support of a telenursing program for patients with chronic disease.

Wisconsin$70,000

St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic, Inc. (Waukesha, WI), in support of expanded health care services for a patient-centered, multi-disciplinary approach.

HealthNet of Rock County, Inc. (Janesville, WI), in support of a program that will assist Spanish-speaking patients in navigating the complex health care system.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its approximately 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 75 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact

Mary Alfieri, CVS Health
Mary.Alfieri@CVSCaremark.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE CVS Health Foundation

CVS Health announces $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Mar-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today announced Be The First, a five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. Through this initiative, which is funded through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, the company is extending its commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives. Recognizing that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and that youth use of some tobacco products is on the rise,Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations uniquely positioned to tackle this public health challenge.

“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use that continues to kill more people than any other preventable cause of death, and threatens the health and well-being of our next generation,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health. “Ensuring our youth stay tobacco-free requires increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We’re partnering with experts across the public health community who have established best practices to help prevent tobacco use. And, by establishing more public-private partnerships to implement these strategies more aggressively, we can help increase the number of people leading tobacco-free lives and move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation.”

To help achieve these goals, CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation have enlisted the help of the nation’s leading anti-tobacco and youth organizations to support programs that each address a unique part of the tobacco epidemic many of which will be launching in the coming weeks. These include new and expanded tobacco education programming with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Scholastic Inc., as well as advocacy and tobacco-control initiatives with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Urban League to accelerate declines in rates of smoking and other tobacco use among teens and young adults.

Be The First is directed at youth and young adults who use tobacco or who are at risk of becoming regular tobacco users, as well as the country’s 3 million elementary school children who, without early tobacco education, may become future tobacco users. It is also focused on continuing to support community-based cessation programs for adult smokers, who expose children to tobacco use in the home and other public venues that permit smoking.

To help guide the initiative, CVS Health is convening a national advisory group made up of a diverse group of thought leaders who will advise on trends, initiatives and strategies that help advance the company’s efforts to make the next generation tobacco-free. Members of the advisory group include: Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething.org; Rosie Henson, Senior Vice President for Prevention and Early Detection at the American Cancer Society; Barry Hummel, Jr., MD, FAAP, Quit Doc Foundation; Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Harold Paz, M.D., M.S., Chief Medical Officer for Aetna; Steve Schroeder, M.D., Director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California San Francisco; and Aaron Zeiler, the 2015 Frank Karel Fellow in Public Interest Communications.

“Both the public health community and private sectors must work together if we are to advance a national strategy to end the tobacco epidemic, especially among our children,” said Matthew L. Myers, president, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We applaud CVS Health for continuing to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives with this significant investment in the health and well-being of the next generation of Americans.”

CVS Health has set actionable and measurable goals over the next five years for its Be The First initiative, including contributing to a 3 percent decline in the national youth smoking rate, a 10 percent decline in the number of new youth smokers and doubling the number of tobacco-free college and university campuses.

Additionally, Be The First will support acampaign to encourage tobacco-free social media. The #BeTheFirst social campaign will include a variety of shareable videos, graphics, and digital tools that enable youth to express their commitment to “be the first” generation to lead tobacco-free lives and counter social media messaging and imagery that promotes youth tobacco use. Research shows that exposure to social media that depicts tobacco use predicts future smoking tendency, over and above the influence of TV and movie depictions of smoking. By helping to make the virtual world of social media tobacco-free, Be The First is helping to provide young people with the motivation to adopt and advocate for the same healthy behaviors in the physical world where it truly matters.

“We know that young people are committed to social change and making the world a better place that includes tackling issues like tobacco,” said Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething.org, with 5 million members in 130 countries who participate in volunteer campaigns that impact every cause. “We’re proud to support CVS Health’s initiative to harness the power of young people and activate them to stop showcasing tobacco and e-cigarettes on social media. It’s amazing to see how passionate millennials are and how much of an impact they can have when addressing issues they care about.”

“Tobacco use, especially among our youth, is one of the most pressing public health issues that we face today,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health, and President of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re pleased to bring additional resources and capabilities to the public health community and work collaboratively with our expert partners to help those who smoke to quit and to ensure that those who don’t smoke never start.”

Each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,800 children under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette and more than 2,100 youth and young adults who have experimented with cigarettes become new regular, daily smokers. Additionally, 40.6% of children between the ages of 3 and 11 years old and 33.8% of kids 12-19 in the United States are exposed to cigarette smoke regularly, either in the home or in public places that permit tobacco use. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, if the rate in youth smoking and youth tobacco use is reduced, 5.6 million children alive today who ultimately will die early from smoking could live to a normal life expectancy.

For more information about Be The First and CVS Health’s broader commitment to tobacco-free living, please visit www.cvshealth.com/bethefirst.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its approximately 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 75 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Contact:

Joe Goode
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9820, jlgoode@cvs.com

Mary Alfieri
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9811, malfieri2@cvs.com

SOURCE CVS Health

 

###

CVS Health announces $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation's first tobacco-free generation

CVS Health announces $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation

CVS Health marks one year since it ended tobacco sales at CVS/pharmacy

  • New Data Shows Reduction in Cigarette Purchases Across All Retailers
  • CVS Health and its Foundation Announce School-based Tobacco-prevention Program

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2015-9-4 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today marked the first anniversary of ending tobacco sales at CVS/pharmacy by releasing new data showing a measurable reduction in cigarette purchases over the past year. The company also announced it is renewing its commitment to creating a tobacco-free generation through a joint initiative between CVS Health, its Foundation and Scholastic to launch a school-based tobacco-prevention program.

“One year ago, we stopped selling tobacco products because it conflicted with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “Today, we are excited to release new data demonstrating the positive impact our decision has had on public health overall as shown by a measurable decrease in the number of cigarette purchases across all retailers.”

The study, conducted by the CVS Health Research Institute, evaluated cigarette pack purchases at drug, food, big box, dollar, convenience and gas station retailers in the eight months after CVS/pharmacy stopped selling tobacco products. The study found an additional one percent reduction in cigarette pack sales in states where CVS/pharmacy had a 15 percent or greater share of the retail pharmacy market, compared to states with no CVS/pharmacy stores. Over the same eight-month period, the average smoker in these states purchased five fewer cigarette packs and, in total, approximately 95 million fewer packs were sold.

Further bolstering the impact of CVS/pharmacy’s tobacco removal, the CVS Health Research Institute study showed a four percent increase in nicotine patch purchases in the states with a CVS/pharmacy market share of 15 percent of more, in the period immediately following the end of tobacco sales. This indicates that there was also a positive effect on attempts to quit smoking.

“We know that more than two-thirds of smokers want to quit – and that half of smokers try to quit each year. We also know that cigarette purchases are often spontaneous. And so we reasoned that removing a convenient location to buy cigarettes could decrease overall tobacco use,” Brennan said. “This new data demonstrates that CVS Health’s decision to stop selling tobacco did indeed have a real public health impact.”

The impact of CVS Health’s tobacco cessation efforts can also be measured in the reach of its pharmacists and nurse practitioners, who have worked to support customers’ efforts to quit smoking. Since September 3, 2014, the average number of MinuteClinic “Start to Stop” smoking cessation visits conducted per month nearly doubled. CVS pharmacists counseled more than 260,000 patients about smoking cessation and filled nearly 600,000 nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) prescriptions. The company also distributed millions of smoking cessation informational brochures and hundreds of thousands of “Last Pack” toolkits, and educated more than one million people via its Online Cessation Hub on CVS.com.

In the year since removing tobacco products, CVS Health also made a significant commitment to philanthropic giving and strategic partnerships, pledging more than $1 million in corporate grants to tobacco cessation and prevention programs. CVS Health and its Foundation also built on partnerships with organizations leading the fight against tobacco and supporting those living with its health consequences including Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Stand Up To Cancer, and American Lung Association’s LUNGFORCE.

In celebration of the past year’s success, CVS Health has made new commitments to further its impact in the coming years. Today, CVS Health and its Foundation also announced a strategic initiative with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, to introduce a new, school-based program aimed at preventing youth smoking and teaching children about the health consequences of tobacco use.

“Over the last year, CVS Health has created partnerships with community organizations across the country that are dedicated to helping people quit smoking and communicating the importance of never starting tobacco use,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, CVS Health and President, CVS Health Foundation. “Today, we are proud to mark our one-year anniversary by building on our commitment to be a meaningful part of the effort to make the next generation tobacco-free. By partnering with an expert partner in education to launch this new program, we will reach millions of kids across the country with critical tobacco-prevention education.”

The program will reach nearly three million children in grades three, four and five when it begins this fall, with a second component offered in some pilot markets for young adults in grades six and seven to be introduced in early 2016. It will include classroom resources for teachers and students as well as take-home components that give parents the opportunity to talk to their children about smoking. The middle school component will include a student engagement program, with the chance to receive incentives such as scholarships and youth-focused community training.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its 7,800 retail pharmacies, nearly 1,000 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70 million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:

Erin Shields Britt
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com

Carolyn Castel
(401) 770-5717
Carolyn.Castel@CVSHealth.com

 

###

CVS Health marks one year since it ended tobacco sales at CVS/pharmacy

CVS Health marks one year since it ended tobacco sales at CVS/pharmacy