CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust Announces Record Number of Grants Totaling $1.7M to 76 Organizations in 20 States

CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust Announces Record Number of Grants
Totaling $1.7M to 76 Organizations in 20 States
- Grant funds will be used by the non-profit organizations to support a myriad
of initiatives focused on health, education and civic engagement - 


WOONSOCKET, R.I., Jan. 31  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The CVS/pharmacy
Charitable Trust, the private foundation established by CVS Corporation (NYSE:
CVS), announced today that it has awarded $1.7 million in grants to 76 non-
profit organizations in 20 states and Washington, D.C.  The number of grants
awarded were more than double the number of grants made last year, representing
an increase in grant funds of $1.1 million.

"We are pleased to support these very worthy charities that are working hard in
our communities to improve people's lives," said Eileen Howard Dunn, Vice
President of the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust.  "A CVS/pharmacy Charitable
Trust grant is an effective way for us to give back to the communities where we
do business.  We are especially pleased to expand our grant program to the many
new markets we entered in late 2004 through our acquisition of 1,260 Eckerd
drug stores."

Grants were awarded to organizations dedicated to healthcare, education and
community engagement.  "The foundation focuses on those projects that clearly
demonstrate they are meeting a need within the community, and where
collaborative efforts and measurement tools are in place to track success.  We
are confident that each of the non-profits we chose to work with in the coming
year will create positive change and influence in the communities we serve
together," said Howard Dunn.

The programs receiving grants range in focus from awareness concerning the risk
of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in Maryland, to support for a Sickle
Cell Education Center for children receiving treatment for the disease in
Miami, to outreach for the uninsured in Phoenix, to family literacy programs in
New York.

The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust's goal is to identify those groups that have
validated needs in their community and have a proven track record for creating
change.  In many cases, CVS/pharmacy associates become involved with grantees
by providing volunteer assistance, participating in other fund- raisers and
assisting in outreach and education services.

"Collaborative for Children is grateful to the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust
for its generous grant to support our Baby Basics Houston project, which will
assist us in enhancing the way the Houston community cares for, educates, and
prepares its young children for the future," said Carol S. Shattuck, President,
Collaborative for Children.  "Our goal is for all low-income women with limited
health literacy skills to have the opportunity for healthy pregnancy outcomes
and to increase their ability to understand and communicate effectively with
their health care provider.  We look forward to continuing to work with CVS to
impact children and families in the Houston community."

"Shepherd's Hope is delighted to receive this generous $10,000 grant from the
CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust. Medication is one of our  greatest needs at our
eight Health Center locations in Florida and this grant will help to ensure our
patients have access to the medications they have been prescribed," said Cindi
Kopelman, President, Shepherd's Hope, Inc.  "This partnership with CVS ensures
our services have maximum impact in the community, and we are most grateful on
behalf of the patients we serve."

"CARE for Children is an organization in rural northwest Pennsylvania that
provides health, education, rehabilitative and social services to children,"
said Ann Feightner, Executive Director, CARE for Children.  "The CVS/pharmacy
Charitable Trust grant will allow CARE for Children to procure
videoconferencing technology and establish a telemedicine outreach clinic that
will bridge the gap for specialized pediatric orthopedic services via a
partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie.  The grant will also
enable CARE to pursue future partnerships with other pediatric specialties that
will ultimately enhance the quality of health care for area children."

  List of 2004 Grantees:

   Alabama
   * Literacy Coalition of South Alabama

   Arizona
   * Chandler Regional Hospital Foundation
   * Desert Mission - John C. Lincoln Children's Health Services

   Connecticut
   * Community Partnerships
   * Harbor Health Services
   * The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp

   Florida
   * A Gift for Teaching of Tampa
   * CITE, Lighthouse of the Visually Impaired
   * GROWS Literacy Council
   * Shepherds Hope
   * Stepping Stone Foundation
   * University of Miami Sickle Cell Center

   Illinois
   * American Lung Association of Illinois
   * Greater DuPage MYM
   * Health Reach Incorporated
   * Rosalind Franklin University

   Kentucky
   * Kentucky River Children's Advocacy Center
   * The NewLife Center
   * People Understanding Special Handicaps (PUSH)

   Louisiana
   * St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy

   Maryland
   * Maryland Foundation for Quality Healthcare

   Massachusetts
   * Bay Cove Human Service
   * Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
   * Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
   * Hampshire Educational Collaborative
   * Massachusetts Association for the Blind
   * Pediatric Dental Clinic at Boston Medical Center
   * Reader to Reader
   * National Kidney Foundation of MA, RI, NH & VT

   Michigan
   * St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital

   Missouri
   * The National Children's Cancer Society

   North Carolina
   * Alliance for Children & Youth
   * Burke County Literacy Council

   New York
   * Boys & Girls Republic
   * Down Syndrome Resource Center
   * Family Enrichment Network
   * Montefiore Medical Center
   * P2 Collaborative of WNY

   Ohio
   * Appalachian READS
   * AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland
   * Beech Acres
   * The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
   * Goodwill Industries of the Miami Valley
   * YMCA of Greater Cleveland

   Pennsylvania
   * CARE for Children
   * The Carl & Emily Weller Center for Health Education
   * Maternity Care Coalition
   * Women's Center of Montgomery County

   Rhode Island
   * Big Brothers of RI
   * The Bradford L. Dunn Institute
   * Butler Hospital
   * Federal Hill House Association
   * Landmark Medical Center
   * Meeting Street
   * Providence Children's Museum
   * Providence Public Library
   * RI Foundation of Dentistry of Handicapped
   * RI Kids Count
   * Trinity Repertory Company
   * University of Rhode Island
   * Wood River Health Services

   South Carolina
   * Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry
   * Children's Attention Home
   * Rolling Readers of the Midlands

   Texas
   * Ennis Lions Club
   * ESCAPE Family Resource Center
   * Goodwill Industries of Houston
   * Collaborative for Children
   * YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas

   Virginia
   * Falls Church-McLean Children's Center
   * Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic
   * SIDS Mid-Atlantic
   * South Central Perinatal Council

   Vermont
   * Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired

   Washington, DC
   * Capital Area Food Bank
   * Mentors, Inc.



The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust will be accepting applications for 2005
grants from May 1 to June 15, 2005.

For additional information, go to:
http://www.cvs.com/corpInfo/community/charitable_mission.html.

The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust is a private foundation managed by CVS
Corporation, which operates more than 5,000 CVS/pharmacy stores in 36 states.
The Trust's mission is to provide funding for health care, education and
community involvement initiatives in communities where CVS stores are located.
General information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations
portion of the Company's website, at http://www.cvs.com/.

  CONTACT:
   Mike DeAngelis
   CVS Corporation
   401-770-2645


DATASOURCE: CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust



CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis of CVS Corporation, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.cvs.com/corpInfo/community/charitable_mission.html

http://www.cvs.com/ 

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