Walgreens Sponsors Chicago's Fifth Annual Latino Fashion Week Nov. 1 – 6

DEERFIELD, Ill., Oct. 31, 2011 - Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) will be a presenting sponsor of the Fifth Annual Latino Fashion Week starting Tuesday, Nov.1 through Sunday, Nov. 6, at Zhou B. Art Center, 1029 W. 35 St., Chicago. The event, which has become the nation’s largest showcase for Latino designers and models, is expected to draw attendance of more than 10,000 fashion enthusiasts. The event will benefit Vive En Forma, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating childhood obesity in Hispanic communities.

Steve Pemberton, Walgreens divisional vice president of diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, will be on hand to help kick off Latino Fashion Week during the Red Carpet Media reception Tuesday at 6 p.m. Five hundred VIP guests will receive a Walgreens exclusive designer swag bag featuring works of art from renowned Chicago artist Andre Guichard.

This year’s event will include educational seminars and a three-day vendor exposition Nov. 3-5. The expo provides an ideal venue for Walgreens health professionals to share advice on the prevention and management of the health conditions that disproportionately impact Hispanic communities. Walgreens pharmacists will offer consultations, flu shots and free blood pressure screenings during expo hours.

Sponsorship of Latino Fashion Week aligns with Walgreens Way to Well Commitment to bring preventive health care resources, health testing services and charitable programs to thousands of communities across the country.

“Walgreens pharmacists and Take Care Health nurse practitioners serve as some of the most accessible resources for health information and support in predominately Latino communities coast to coast,” said Pemberton. “Community engagement is a part of the Walgreens DNA, and it’s one of the many reasons we are pleased to sponsor Latino Fashion Week here in our hometown. Through opportunities like this, we’re reaching beyond our corner drugstores to help people make healthier choices to live well and stay well.”

The expo will also include a display from Walgreens Community Corner, a program created to promote the drugstore chain’s diverse suppliers. During the event, Walgreens Community Corner will spotlight some of its top Hispanic-owned vendor partners including:

• Trend Beauty, distributor of luxury fragrances
• Kramer Labs, supplier of nail care products
• Maximus Coffee, supplier of Walgreens Nice™ brand coffee
• Efficient Labs, supplier of cold and flu products
• Ferdel Promotions, distributor of personal care products

Each company will offer product samples, and merchandise will be available for cash purchases.

"We’re proud to play an integral role in an event that will allow some of the largest Hispanic-owned suppliers to showcase their products at the show,” said Gleatha Glisipie, Walgreens senior director of supplier diversity. “Latino Fashion Week also offers a unique opportunity for our Hispanic suppliers to gain valuable exposure to a very large group of influential consumers who support businesses that have a positive impact in their communities.”

For more information on Walgreens Supplier Diversity, visit www.Walgreens.com/supplierdiversity.

To learn more about Walgreens pharmacy, health and wellness services, visit www.Walgreens.com/pharmacy.

For more details on Latino Fashion Week including an event schedule, featured designers, models and celebrity guests, go to www.latinofashionwk.com or www.facebook.com/latinofashionwk.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,779 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.

Walgreens
Tiffani Washington, (847) 315-2925
tiffani.washington@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com