NEW YORK — Community pharmacy chains and supplier companies kicked in over $1.77 million for scholarships, research and charitable activities at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation’s annual dinner here late last month.

NACDS FOUNDATION DINNER

Kerr Drug chief executive officer Tony Civello, CVS Caremark CEO Larry Merlo and Merlo’s wife, Lee Ann, at the NACDS Foundation’s charitable dinner.

The money generated by the 13th annual dinner supports improving patients’ health and quality of life by fostering understanding of prescription medicines, promoting medication adherence, enhancing patient care services at neighborhood pharmacies and educating future health care professionals.

Among the NACDS Foundation’s work, donations support the new Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project to provide grants to colleges and schools of pharmacy for the development of 30 fully accredited postgraduate residencies.

Separately, the Foundation presents more than $500,000 in scholarships to pharmacy students every year.

“Consumers can benefit by better understanding their medicines, and tomorrow’s pharmacists will play an even greater role in advancing the public health through enhanced innovative services and care,” foundation president Kathleen Jaeger said during her remarks at the dinner. “The NACDS Foundation helps fulfill those necessities by leading an unparalleled effort to improve the public health through community outreach and fostering educational opportunities for the next generation’s pharmacy leaders.”

The NACDS Foundation’s recent partnership with the National Consumers League on its Script Your Future medication adherence public education campaign led to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin’s speaking at this year’s dinner.

The Script Your Future campaign has emerged as one of Benjamin’s top priorities and her remarks focused on the role medication adherence plays in maintaining public health.
The NACDS Foundation’s $1 million-plus donation to the Script Your Future program is the largest single donation to this initiative.