NEW YORK — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation’s 12th annual dinner generated contributions totaling $1.76 million.
The NACDS Foundation said the funding raised from 120 benefactors during the Tuesday night dinner, held in New York City, will go toward scholarships, education, research, and charitable activities to help people improve their health and quality of life through an understanding of medication therapy and the importance of taking medications appropriately.
Walgreen Co. and its subsidiary Duane Reade Inc. were premier sponsors of the event. General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and leader of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), delivered the keynote address at the event.
"As a distinguished former military leader, we were honored to have General McChrystal address the attendees of the annual dinner," NACDS Foundation president Edith Rosato said in a statement. "We appreciated learning about his life experiences both personally and on the battlefield."
In 2010, the foundation dinner contributions were used in a number of ways, according to NACDS. The foundation awarded a $1 million grant to promote medication adherence as part of a public awareness campaign by the National Consumer League, representatives of which attended the dinner.
In addition, representatives of Convoy of Hope and AmeriCares, who were in attendance, were recognized for their relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January. The NACDS Foundation donated $50,000 to each organization to assist with providing food, water, medicine and other resources and supplies to those affected. The foundation also contributed $50,000 to Doctors Without Borders for its health care delivery efforts following the earthquake.
The foundation also recognized six NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Student Scholarship recipients. Each year, the foundation contributes more than $500,000 to support pharmacy student education through two scholarship programs.
During her remarks, Rosato thanked the foundation benefactors for their generosity in supporting its mission. “We thank you for your generous and productive partnership with the NACDS Foundation," she commented. "Together, we are improving public health, and improving people’s lives."
