CVS/pharmacy Gives Back in a Big Way

It's no surprise that a company like CVS/pharmacy is dedicated to bettering the community. But what exactly does CVS do? Each time you walk into a CVS store to grab that pack of gum or pick up your oh-so-important prescription, you're probably not thinking about CVS/pharmacy's most recent community-benefitting event.In today's post, I'll give you a peek into the world of CVS/pharmacy's community relations -- how CVS not only builds long-term trust with its host communities but how CVS has become known as a trustworthy and selfless neighbor.

It didn't take long for me to find exactly what I was looking for online! CVS Caremark's private foundation, CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, is a way for CVS to donate time and money to benefit children and families nationwide.

The CVS "All Kids Can" initiative is committed to ensuring healthy development and fun childhoods, especially children who have special needs. For tons of fantastic information about "All Kids Can," visit http://www.cvscaremarkallkidscan.com/!

The program, started in 2006, is a 5
year, $25 million commitment dedicated to"create opportunities for all kids of all
abilities to learn, play & succeed in
life."

CVS Caremark "All Kids Can" has partnered with the Easter Seals Foundation, Boundless Playgrounds and VSA (The International Organization on Arts and Disability). For more infromation about these incredible organizations, visit CVS Caremark's Partners page. CVS teamed up with companies like Playskool to support Boundless Playgrounds projects and has donated over $4 million dollars to the cause! CVS Caremark and the Trust are important sponsors of the project, which builds interactive and educational playgrounds for children with special needs. Boundless Playgrounds follows the mission of "All Kids Can" by helping children "...Learn. Play. Succeed" - all while having fun!

"All Kids Can" not only joins with fabulous organizations like Boundless Playgrounds, but also donates grants to deserving organizations that support the mission of their program. According to their website, "We are proud to report, since 2001, the Trust has awarded grants totaling more than $37 million to more than 1,800 organizations. Of this, $6.3 million was donated in 2009." Clearly, the Trust's benefits are far-reaching and touch thousands of lives.

In Connecticut alone, there are six recipients of "All Kids Can" grants, including The Children's Museum of Southeastern CT, Inc. For the complete Grant Recipient List, click on the link! The grant program is still in effect and the website urges organizations, schools and other groups that help the community while helping children to apply.

Not only does CVS Caremark use grants and donations to help the community, but they are dedicated to spreading interest in volunteerism within their employees and the outside community. Employees can sign up for the CVS Caremark Community Crew at any time and get involved in CVS' great community works. Also, non-CVS employees are able to help out around the community. To sign up for CVS Caremark Community Crew as a non-employee, Click Here!

CVS Caremark's community relations program "All Kids Can" is a fantastic way to better their relationship with the surrounding communities. Not only is the program nationwide (like their stores) but it betters the futures of the nation's children. When special needs children have strong foundations and can Learn, Play and Succeed -even with their disabilities- it gives them the ability to feel included and important."All Kids Can" supports the mission and vision of CVS Caremark. The corporation's vision is to "Strive to improve the quality of human life." CVS's community relations program helps children with special needs by donating time and money towards efforts that give those children opportunities and services not ordinarily available. With that extra help, the quality of life for disabled children is improving exponentially.

In regards to CVS's mission, the "All Kids Can" program applies to the company's dedication to "providing expert care and innovative solutions in...health care." An important aspect of "All Kids Can" is the funds spent on finding medical rehabilitation for disabled children. With rehabilitation and other medical services, these children have a better chance of living normal, healthy lives

CVS Caremark is doing an amazing job in helping their nationwide community. Especially with their program "All Kids Can" and focusing a great deal of their efforts on helping children with disabilities, CVS Caremark is proving to the community that not only can they provide great customer service in-store, but also have a committment to bettering their communities, starting with the little ones.

Personally, I think CVS Caremark is doing an excellent job creating mutually beneficial relationships with their communities. All of their charitable work is publicized through press releases and on their websites but not overly-publicized so the company's gain overshadows the amazing work CVS Caremark, the Charitable Trust and "All Kids Can" really do. If the company could be doing anything else, it would be publicize upcoming charitable events so volunteers can get involved when they hear about events happening in their own communities.

To learn how to donate, volunteer or simply get some more information, I suggest you head over to http://info.cvscaremark.com/community right now!