CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust Awards $35,000 Dollars to Three Non-Prof

WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust, the private foundation managed by CVS Corporation , announced today that it has awarded $35,000 in grants to three non-profit organizations in Kentucky.

"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," stated Howard Dunn.

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.

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.

Kentucky based organizations that received a grant from the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust are:

Kentucky River Children's Advocacy Center, Inc. (KRCAC)

Description of program: The Kentucky River Children's Advocacy Center mission is to provide a comfortable and safe environment where child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members can receive services from all agencies. The organizations goal is to limit the number of times the child must relate the events of abuse. The grant will support a position of a Medical Unit Coordinator to help assist with the organizations mission. Contact name at organization: Melissa W. Quillen (606) 487-9173

People Understanding Special Handicaps (PUSH)

Description of program: The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust will help fund the Beth Riddell Scholarship Fund which allows children from birth to 5 years of age to participate fully with peers their age regardless of their ability. The focus is to provide therapeutic services to children in their most naturally occurring environment as current research shows that children are more able to learn and use skills functionally. The inclusive nature of program is vital as it allows for positive social interactions and social relationships to develop between students with and without disabilities. Contact name at organization: Holly Smith (502) 875-8666

The NewLife Center, Inc.

Description of grant: The Trust will provide funding to help in the transportation of pregnant and parenting teens so they may complete high school, go on to higher education, or join the workforce in order to break the generational cycle of poverty. The grant will offset the increasing costs of transportation. Contact name at organization: Bonnie Cecil (502) 349-6603

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 Charitable Trust, Inc. 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://investor.cvs.com/, or through the website's press room at http://www.cvs.com/pressroom.

CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis CVS Corporation 401-770-2645