Back row, l to r: Franklin Fry, Executive Director, Greater Syracuse & NE Pennsylvania American Heart Association; David Warner, R.Ph., CEO, KPH Healthcare Services, Inc.; Steve McCoy, EVP & CFO of KPH, Rich McNulty, VP of HR, KPH; & David McClure, EVP, KPH & President, Kinney Drugs Foundation. Front Row, l to r: Stacy Spaziani, Regional Director, North Country, American Heart Association; Rebecca Bubel, R.Ph., President, Kinney Drugs; Pavi Chigateri, CTO of KPH & member, Go Red 2021 Executive Leadership Team; Melissa Bianco, Supervisor Retail Marketing & Loyalty for Kinney Drugs & Co-Chair of North Country Heart Challenge; Bridget-ann Hart, R.Ph &, KPH Board Member; & Tracy Stoffel, Kinney Drugs Foundation Administrator.

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. – In 2020, Kinney Drugs earned special recognition from the American Heart Association as the No. 1 National Wear Red Day Fundraiser. The employee-owned company raised $52,000 through its in-store fundraising campaign. In addition, Kinney Drugs and the Kinney Drugs Foundation were recognized with a regional Corporate Leadership Award for “…exemplary support of, and involvement with, the mission of the American Heart Association over at least five years.”

The first Friday of February is Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association’s national campaign that encourages employees in businesses across the U.S. to wear red and donate $5 to help fight heart disease in women. For its 2020 campaign, Kinney employees, customers, partners, vendors, and the general community donated $52,000 in critical funds for research and people living with heart disease and stroke.

Kinney’s goal this year is to surpass last year’s donation. Throughout February, customers can donate $1 to receive an iconic red dress magnet at all Kinney stores. This year, the company has added a new (and socially distanced) twist: a “Spot the Magnet” contest. Kinney is encouraging customers to place their magnets on their vehicles to raise community awareness of heart disease and stroke in women. If their magnet is later randomly “spotted” in a Kinney parking lot, one person per week per location will win a $10 Kinney Drugs gift card.

Regarding this year’s campaign, Kinney Drugs President Rebecca Bubel, R.Ph., said, “Kinney is so privileged to have the most generous customers, employees, and business partners who helped us exceed our fundraising goals last year, and we thank them for their generosity. As a healthcare company, it’s important for Kinney to support organizations such as the American Heart Association, who are working to improve the health of our local communities. Every day, Kinney pharmacists help patients understand the role that appropriate medication use, proper nutrition, and exercise can play in preventing heart disease and stroke. By partnering with the AHA, we can bring awareness to their message and help our patients live healthier lives.”

“Every year, this campaign during American Heart Month generates much-needed funds for our mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, including programming, education, and research. This support from the customers and employees of Kinney Drugs helps us educate our local communities on best practices in treatment, and how women can stay healthy and avoid heart disease and stroke. In 2020, we funded more than $668,000 in local scientific research, thanks to extremely dedicated companies such as Kinney Drugs, the Kinney Drugs Foundation, and all of KPH Healthcare Services,” said Franklin Fry, Executive Director of the Greater Syracuse & NE Pennsylvania American Heart Association.