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Golden anniversary marked by Rite Aid

To celebrate its 50th year in business Rite Aid Corp. plans a string of anniversary events for the next six months. Dubbed RA50, the 50th anniversary campaign began this month and will run across the country. “Rite Aid’s motto is ‘With us, it’s personal’ and for 50 years, our associates have

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CAMP HILL, Pa. — To celebrate its 50th year in business Rite Aid Corp. plans a string of anniversary events for the next six months.

Dubbed RA50, the 50th anniversary campaign began this month and will run across the country.

“Rite Aid’s motto is ‘With us, it’s personal’ and for 50 years, our associates have proudly delivered on this promise by meeting the health and wellness needs of our customers and communities,” chairman, president and chief executive officer John Standley says.

“RA50 embodies our core values and is the perfect way for Rite Aid to thank the many communities across the nation that have helped us grow and to continue our mission of helping those we serve live healthier, happier lives.”

Headlining the initiative will be 50 “acts of wellness” that Rite Aid will host in its major market areas.

The anniversary effort kicked off in Rite Aid’s own backyard on September 12, as the company provided a free healthy breakfast and wellness fair for state employees at the Pennsylvania capitol in Harrisburg. Capitol police received free wellness kits. In addition, Pennsylvania executive deputy secretary of health Michael Wolf presented Standley with a proclamation from Gov. Tom Corbett that recognized Rite Aid’s 50 years of service.

Other RA50 wellness acts were held in Harrisburg on September 13 and September 15, and more will be held in Baltimore; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Scranton, Pa.; Cleveland; Detroit; Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles, Atlanta, Norfolk, Va.; and New York.

The initiative culminates with special 50th anniversary sales promotions in January and February.

Rite Aid executives say the events in the various cities will not all be the same.

“While many of our acts of wellness will include free screenings, wellness fairs and a variety of public education events, others will take communities by surprise and spread wellness messages in novel ways,” Standley says. “In each community RA50 visits we’ll also be partnering with community officials and organizations to reach populations most in need and inviting local officials to join us as healthy role models for local residents.”

Standley notes that the events in each market will address specific community health and wellness needs such as diabetes, heart disease, childhood obesity, and cold and flu prevention.

Also for the anniversary celebration Rite Aid has launched a special website — ra50.com — that will provide details on the corporate-sponsored wellness events happening across the country. The site will also highlight community outreach activities led by Rite Aid associates.

Rite Aid got its start on September 12, 1962, when founder Alex Grass opened his first store, the 1,400-square-foot ­Thrif D Discount Center, in Scranton, Pa. Rite Aid’s first pharmacy opened in 1966, and the company officially became Rite Aid Corp. in 1968. Today, it operates 4,643 stores in 31 states and the District of ­Columbia.

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