ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation served as a Gold Sponsor for the 44th Annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, held Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The gala is an annual event where Members of Congress go head-to-head and compete as chefs, serving their favorite dishes to attendees with the goal of raising money and awareness for the March of Dimes mission.
NACDS Foundation Chair Steven Anderson, provided opening remarks to the gala attendees, and NACDS staff attending on behalf of the Foundation joined the action as Sous Chefs, working side by side with Members of Congress as they plated and handed out their dishes. The hands-on role gave team members a chance to work with lawmakers directly while helping the night run smoothly.
This marked the 10th consecutive year that the NACDS Foundation has sponsored the event, and this year’s gala raised $1.6 million for the March of Dimes. Funds raised through the Gourmet Gala directly support March of Dimes programs, advocacy, and research focused on addressing the maternal health crisis, improving access to care, and ensuring every family has the opportunity for a healthy start.
The mission of the March of Dimes directly aligns with the NACDS Foundation’s own focus on community health, which has guided its giving and research endeavors for decades.
A Broader Commitment to Community Health
“We are grateful to March of Dimes for being such outstanding partners in the pursuit of improved health outcomes for mothers and babies, and the NACDS Foundation was honored to participate in such a fun and impactful evening,” said NACDS Foundation Chair Steven C. Anderson, FASAE, CAE, IOM. “Our support for this event builds on the NACDS Foundation’s decades-long commitment to supporting organizations and research that advance pharmacy education and community health, and we look forward to continuing our support in the future.”
“The NACDS Foundation is moving pharmacy care forward through research, scholarships, and strong partnerships. Thanks to the incredible support from our benefactors, the Foundation is proud to be backing the students, researchers, and ideas that are revolutionizing patient care, strengthening pharmacy education, and improving health outcomes nationwide,” said NACDS Foundation President Christie Boutte, PharmD, RPh, IOM.
The Foundation’s commitment extends well beyond a single evening. Throughout the year, the Foundation funds organizations and research initiatives that improve patient care, strengthen the pharmacy field, and address the broader factors that shape community health.
Organizations the NACDS Foundation Supports
In addition to its longstanding support of the March of Dimes, the Foundation partners with organizations whose work advances health, opportunity, and wellbeing in communities across the country:
- Ronald McDonald House Charities — One Dad’s Mission — The Foundation is a Platinum sponsor of One Dad’s Mission, a cross-country cycling initiative that raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities. These funds help provide housing, care, and support for families with critically ill children during treatment. The Foundation’s $15,000 contribution will support the 2026 Chapter 2 ride, building on prior support of the 2024 Coast-to-Coast ride that benefited the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House.
- Elizabeth Seton High School — Pharmacy Technician Program — The Foundation contributed $10,000 to support the Pharmacy Technician program at Elizabeth Seton High School, an all-girls Catholic high school in Bladensburg, Maryland. This investment helps introduce young women to careers in pharmacy and inspires the next generation of future pharmacy professionals.
- Alzheimer’s Association — 12th Annual Vision Gala — As a Silver Sponsor ($25,000) of the Vision Gala, the Foundation supports the Alzheimer’s Association’s work to advance research, early detection, and care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The Foundation has supported the Alzheimer’s Association for nearly two decades, reflecting pharmacy’s vital role in helping patients manage chronic and age-related conditions.
- So Others Might Eat (SOME) — Break the Cycle Gala — The Foundation has supported SOME as an Advocate of Change Sponsor, helping fund programs that address homelessness and poverty through housing, healthcare, job training, and supportive services. This partnership reflects the Foundation’s commitment to health equity and to addressing the social factors that shape overall wellbeing.
Current NACDS Foundation Research Initiatives
The Foundation’s research portfolio is producing measurable results — from cases prevented to patients screened — that are improving lives and the nation’s overall health, in addition to expanding access to care, through community pharmacy:
- Helping People Access Nutritious Food Through Their Pharmacy (in partnership with the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University) — This study is exploring how community pharmacies can connect patients with nutritious food through “food prescriptions.” Hundreds of people have enrolled so far, and early results are promising. Researchers are tracking key health measures to understand the program’s real-world patient impact.
- Strengthening Partnerships Between Pharmacies and Health Plans (in partnership with the Alliance for Integrated Medication Management) — This initiative brings pharmacies and health plans together in “learning collaboratives” to improve patient care and expand access to pharmacy services. The national collaborative has drawn hundreds of participants, alongside a focused effort in Tennessee. An upcoming peer-reviewed publication will share early findings on how regional collaboration can turn policy into real-world improvements for patients, and this effort is supporting a national dialogue on the importance of collaboration in improving access to pharmacy services.
- Expanding Pharmacy-Based Support for Substance Use Disorders (in partnership with the Implementation and Research Center for Healthy Communities at the University of Pittsburgh) — Now in its third phase, Project Lifeline is bringing screening and treatment referrals for opioid and other substance use disorders to community pharmacies across more states. Building on earlier Foundation-funded research in Pennsylvania that included more than 6,000 patient screenings, this expansion project is testing how to scale the program sustainably with partnership of regional health plans.
- Bringing HIV Prevention to Underserved Communities (in partnership with the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy and the School of Behavioral Health) — This project is studying how community pharmacies in Southern California can expand access to HIV screening and prevention medication (known as PrEP). So far, hundreds of individuals have been screened for PrEP through pharmacist participation at community clinics, faith-based gatherings, and local events. The team is also building stronger referral and follow-up systems to keep patients connected to care.
- Evaluating Children’s Vaccine Access at Pharmacies (in partnership with the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy) — This study examines the role of pharmacies in providing COVID-19 vaccines to children and adolescents in North Carolina from 2021-2023. An upcoming publication will focus on how pharmacies administered 42% of pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations statewide — with equally strong reach in rural, suburban, and urban areas — preventing hospitalizations and generating cost savings. The findings also point to opportunities to close equity gaps and strengthen pharmacy-based vaccine access going forward. Additional publications focusing on the economic and health outcomes, and the pharmacist vaccination experience are also underway.
Investing in the Future of Pharmacy Education
The NACDS Foundation is also continuing its investment in the future of pharmacy education. This year, the Foundation awarded $300,000 in scholarships to 12 pharmacy schools across the country through the NACDS Foundation Scholarship Program — marking its largest investment to date.
Together, these partnerships, research initiatives, and educational investments reflect the NACDS Foundation’s enduring commitment to advancing community health and the pharmacy profession. As it has for decades, the Foundation will continue to support the organizations, research, and people working to build healthier communities and a stronger future for pharmacy. Learn more at NACDSFoundation.org.
