CVS Health (a Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Noteworthy Company), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, has announced a major commitment in support of women’s heart health. As a new national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, CVS Health has pledged to raise a minimum of $10 million over the next three years to support life-saving cardiovascular research and education.
Helena Foulkes, President of CVS Pharmacy, has also been named as the inaugural National Chair for Go Red For Women, an annual campaign designed to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women and to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
“With more than one in three women living with cardiovascular disease, there is a great need for increased awareness, funding and research about women’s heart health. I am honored to serve as National Chair for Go Red For Women to help spread this important message,” said Foulkes. “Many of our colleagues, customers and communities have been touched by heart disease and stroke and we are encouraging them to help us inspire action and support the work of the American Heart Association by ‘going red’ and as part of our company’s broader commitment to helping people on their path to better health.”
Coinciding with American Heart Month in February, CVS Pharmacy customers can support Go Red For Women by making a $1, $3 or larger donation at the register at 7,900 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide or online, February 5-25. The in-store fundraising campaign is the first of many initiatives to support the three-year, $10 million commitment by CVS Health to the American Heart Association.
“CVS Health and the American Heart Association both share a deep commitment to making a meaningful health impact in the communities we serve and we couldn’t be more energized and excited about them joining us in the fight against heart disease in women,” said American Heart Association Board Chairman Al Royse. “CVS Health’s support of Go Red For Women will help fund lifesaving research and education in this critical area, while also providing easy ways for their customers to ‘Go Red’. We look forward to saving and changing countless lives by working together.”
Cardiovascular diseases cause nearly one in three deaths in women each year or one death every 80 seconds. It is important to be armed with heart health knowledge, including knowing the five key numbers that affect risk for heart disease total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. To help address this need, MinuteClinic the retail walk-in medical clinic of CVS Health is offering free “Know Your Numbers” heart screenings at its more than 1,100 locations nationwide on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
“Many women do not realize that most regular cardiovascular screening tests should begin at age 20, and that knowing your personal health numbers helps you and your health care provider better determine your risk for developing future problems,” saidAngela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer at MinuteClinic. “By offering free heart health screenings at our MinuteClinic locations this Valentine’s Day, we can help women assess their heart health and make any necessary changes to their lifestyle to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.”
For a list of MinuteClinic locations, visit http://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator. No appointment is necessary; screenings will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
