For Immediate Release
Contact: Tiffani Bruce, Walgreens
July 27, 2006
847-914-2962
Walgreens and the National Urban League Join Forces to Bring Health Screenings to Urban Communities
Atlanta, GA. July 27, 2006 - Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, has joined forces with the National Urban League (NUL) to launch the National Urban League/Walgreens Wellness Tour. The tour features a customized traveling education and health-screening vehicle which will appear at select NUL affiliates in key urban markets as part of a 12-month national campaign. The tour is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2007.
“Health screenings can detect disease before any symptoms are noticed, which is why awareness is the key to living a long and healthy life,” said Mark Wagner, executive vice president of store operations for Walgreen Co. “We’re thrilled to partner with the National Urban League to provide resources which will empower Americans in urban communities to live healthier lives.”
The tour will visit approximately 20 urban markets and will provide free screening services inside the customized, 38-foot bus, which may include: total cholesterol level, blood pressure, bone density, glucose level and body mass index. Visitors to the bus will be invited to participate in the free screenings and receive health information.
"The National Urban League is proud to partner with Walgreens to provide these beneficial screenings to our local affiliates and surrounding communities,” said Marc H. Morial, NUL president and CEO. “We know the services we are providing through this tour have the potential to save lives, and we are pleased to offer this opportunity to individuals who otherwise may not have had access to basic health screenings.”
The National Urban League/Walgreens Wellness Tour will encourage consumers to act as their own advocates by taking charge of their health and visiting the wellness bus as it stops in their city to offer educational information and free health screenings.
About Walgreens
Walgreen Co. is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2005 sales of $42.2 billion. The company operates 5,294 stores in 46 states and Puerto Rico, and plans to operate more than 7,000 stores by 2010. Walgreens also provides additional services to pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives (a pharmacy benefits manager), Walgreens Mail Service, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walgreens Home Care.
About the National Urban League
National Urban League (www.nul.org) Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.
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