Walgreens Launches Nationwide Toys for Tots Drive to Help Make Christmas Season Brighter for Children in Need

DEERFIELD, Ill., Dec. 1, 2011 - Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) is teaming up with Toys for Tots and local charities across the nation to help less fortunate children experience the joy of Christmas. Now through Dec. 17, customers can donate new, unwrapped toys at any of the more than 7,700 Walgreens stores across the country. All community donations will be distributed to local families.

“From the company’s earliest days, Walgreens has been committed to lending a helping hand in the communities we serve,” said Walgreens community affairs director John Gremer. “With the help of our customers, we will send a warm message of joy and goodwill to thousands of families this Christmas season.”

"We are very pleased to welcome Walgreens as a new national corporate sponsor of our 2011 Marine Toys for Tots Campaign," said retired Marine Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "With the help of the company and its customers, we will no doubt fulfill the Christmas holiday dreams of thousands of less fortunate children, who might otherwise be overlooked this year. We can't thank them enough for the significant part they are playing in this year's program.”

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which is known to be a well-known supporter of compassion and humanitarian efforts, will help raise awareness for Walgreens national toy drive with announcements of its support for the campaign during the show. The show’s annual Toys for Tots drive has raised significant funds and awareness for the cause over the past six seasons.

Toy drive donation bins have been prominently placed at each Walgreens location. For gift ideas or to find a drop-off site near you, visit walgreens.com/toydrive.

About Walgreens:

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,786 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.