Walgreens and Duane Reade Throw Down Challenge to Stop Diabetes® and Support the American Diabetes Association Greater New York City Area

NEW YORK--()--On Tuesday, March 27th at 9:00am at the Walgreens’ Times Square location at 1471 Broadway, 250 Walgreens stores in New York will announce a challenge to 250 Duane Reade stores in the New York metro area to a fundraising contest that will support the activities of the American Diabetes Association Greater New York City area. The challenge will be to see who can raise the most money through pin-up sales over a four-week period in the fall. Duane Reade will conduct the campaign in October and Walgreens will conduct the campaign in November.

Duane Reade has a long history with the American Diabetes Association in New York having participated in pin-up campaigns over the last few years with the highest total achieved being over $200,000. Duane Reade has also been integral in the movement to Stop Diabetes through involvement in a wide variety of programmatic outreach including the Feria de Salud health festival in the South Bronx.

Walgreens acquisition of Duane Reade in 2010 has further strengthened both organizations’ commitment to health and wellness. Walgreens has also developed a close relationship with the American Diabetes Association as a National Strategic Partner supporting pin-up campaigns across the country and taking leadership roles on several Community Leadership Boards throughout the Association.

The contest will be announced on March 27th is the 24th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day®, a one-day, “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In 2011, the American Diabetes Association encouraged Americans to “Join the Million Challenge” and more than 600,000 people took the Diabetes Risk Test. On March 27, 2012, the Association will aim to top that number, inspiring people to take the all-new Diabetes Risk Test by visiting the Association’s Facebook page, stopdiabetes.com or by calling 1-800-DIABETES. Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million Americans including over 1.2 million people in the New York metro area alone. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take the steps to Stop Diabetes.

Skip Bourdo, Walgreens Market Vice President for New York and Connecticut and Greg Calvano, Senior Director of Store Operations for Duane Reade stores will announce the challenge at the Walgreens store in Times Square at 9:00am. In addition, Walgreens has pledged its support of the New York Area Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes events through a grassroots activation of their local community leaders. Walgreens will also display Alert Day information on the digital billboards at this location. Funds raised through this promotion will support the mission of the American Diabetes Association which is to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of everyone affected by diabetes.

Greater New York City Area Executive Director Gina Murdoch stated that “We are thrilled and honored to have Walgreens and Duane Reade spearheading this exciting challenge as a way to raise awareness and funds in our efforts to Stop Diabetes. It is particularly appropriate that we launch this challenge on Alert Day. The American Diabetes Association hopes that this Alert Day will encourage people to take the Diabetes Risk Test and share it with their loved ones. By understanding your risk, you can take the necessary steps to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.”

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Contacts

ADA
Gina Murdoch, Executive Director
212-725-4925 x3421 / cell 646-256-1526
American Diabetes Association, Greater New York City Area
gmurdoch@diabetes.org
or
Walgreens/Duane Reade
Michael Polzin, 847-315-2920
michael.polzin@walgreens.com

Release Summary

Walgreens stores in New York will announce a challenge to 250 Duane Reade stores in the New York metro area to a fundraising contest that will support the activities of the ADA.

Contacts

ADA
Gina Murdoch, Executive Director
212-725-4925 x3421 / cell 646-256-1526
American Diabetes Association, Greater New York City Area
gmurdoch@diabetes.org
or
Walgreens/Duane Reade
Michael Polzin, 847-315-2920
michael.polzin@walgreens.com