Walgreens supports heart and brain health through the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why campaign

Shoppers can support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association

Walgreens is proud to support the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, through Life Is Why™, a cause marketing campaign benefitting the American Heart Association. Life Is Why inspires consumers to celebrate their reasons to live healthier, longer lives – by giving.

“At Walgreens, our purpose is to help people live more joyful lives through better health,” said Jordan Steves, Director of Retail and Pharmacy Operations at Walgreens. “The mission of the American Heart Association aligns with our corporate philosophy.”

Kristen and Donnie Graves with Brooklyn

This June 12 – 26 over 1000 Walgreens locations across West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, DC will provide shoppers the opportunity to donate in a quick and easy way to support the mission of the American Heart Association. This year, the company is doing so in honor of Brooklyn Graves, the first child of Registered District Manager of Pharmacy & Retail Operations at Walgreens, Kristen Graves. Graves has shared her family’s story to raise awareness of congenital heart defects, the need for continued research funding as well as supportive resources the American Heart Association offers.

Brooklyn was born on June 15, 2012, with a congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot. In the newborn intensive care unit, she fought for her life for six months. She was able to go home for a short time before passing away on January 7, 2013. Each year, Brooklyn’s brothers release balloons for her birthday. To honor her fighting spirit and the lives of so many gone too soon, Walgreens is asking customers to donate at checkout.

“My mission in life is to never let Brooklyn be forgotten. Her memory will live on forever in so many ways. Because of the commitment of supporters like Walgreens, the American Heart Association can fund research that can lead to breakthroughs that can help so many families, advocate for policies to improve health across communities and so much more, said Graves. Brooklyn’s story can be watched here.

Donations through the Life is Why campaign – no matter the amount – allow the Association to implement initiatives such

Brooklyn Graves

as:

  • Fund cardiovascular research that can save lives;
  • Annually train on CPR more than 2.5 million high school students in the US and 22 million people around the globe;
  • Support the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.

“We are so thankful for Walgreens and their participation in our Life is Why retail campaign, for their incredible commitment to the American Heart Association and the health of their workforce, customers, and community, said Soula Antoniou, Executive Director of the American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region. “By sharing Brooklyn’s story, and that of the Graves family, their legacy lives on to drive our work as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”

To learn more about the Life Is Why campaign and other participating companies, please visit www.heart.org/lifeiswhywegive.