DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. said it will be a presenting sponsor of the fifth annual Latino Fashion Week in Chicago.
The drug store chain said the event, which starts Tuesday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6, at Chicago’s Zhou B. Art Center, has become the nation’s largest showcase for Latino designers and models and stands to draw attendance of more than 10,000 fashion enthusiasts.
Steve Pemberton, divisional vice president of diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Walgreens, will be on hand to help kick off Latino Fashion Week during the Red Carpet Media reception on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Also, 500 VIP guests will receive a Walgreens exclusive designer swag bag featuring works of art from renowned Chicago artist Andre Guichard.
The event — which will benefit Vive En Forma, a nonprofit group that combats childhood obesity in Hispanic communities — will include educational seminars and a three-day vendor exposition Nov. 3 to 5. The expo provides a venue for Walgreens health professionals to share advice on the prevention and management of the health conditions that disproportionately impact Hispanic communities, the drug chain said.
Walgreens added that its pharmacists will offer consultations, flu shots and free blood pressure screenings during expo hours.
"Walgreens pharmacists and Take Care Health nurse practitioners serve as some of the most accessible resources for health information and support in predominately Latino communities coast to coast," Pemberton said in a statement. "Community engagement is a part of the Walgreens DNA, and it’s one of the many reasons we are pleased to sponsor Latino Fashion Week here in our hometown. Through opportunities like this, we’re reaching beyond our corner drug stores to help people make healthier choices to live well and stay well."
The expo will also include a display from Walgreens Community Corner supplier diversity program that will spotlight some of its top Hispanic-owned vendor partners. Those suppliers include Trend Beauty (luxury fragrances), Kramer Labs (nail care), Maximus Coffee (the supplier of Walgreens’ Nice private-brand coffee), Efficient Labs, (cold and flu products) and Ferdel Promotions (personal care).
Each company will offer product samples, and merchandise will be available for cash purchases, Walgreens said.
"We’re proud to play an integral role in an event that will allow some of the largest Hispanic-owned suppliers to showcase their products at the show," stated Gleatha Glispie, Walgreens’ senior director of supplier diversity. "Latino Fashion Week also offers a unique opportunity for our Hispanic suppliers to gain valuable exposure to a very large group of influential consumers who support businesses that have a positive impact in their communities."
