Giving Back to the Community

Walgreens tries to gain support from consumers by giving back to the community. The public relations department of Walgreens have worked hard to get the company involved in communities more and more. They focus mainly on connecting with communities through charities related to health problems. Their mission statement says, "We will treat each other with respect and dignity and do the same for all we serve. We will offer employees of all backgrounds a place to build careers. We will provide the most convenient access to healthcare services and consumer goods in America. We will earn the trust of our customers and build shareholder value."

To show community support and follow their mission statement Walgreens is doing their best to keep their word. Walgreens' Wellness Tour is going to 75 cities within a year to bring free screening services and improved health awareness throughout the United States. This tour is a national effort to show they care about their customers. Gift cards are being given as rewards to Walgreens' employees this holiday season. The PR department thought of this good idea to motivate employees and to maintain a positive image of locals working at Walgreens.

Walgreens sponsored the American Lung Association's Blow the Whistle on Asthma walks in Illinois. In Chicago the Walgreens Drug Stores Hisorical Foundation set up an exhibit of the first Walgreens from 1901 for the public to visit. This is a creative, educational and fun way to look into the past to see how far Walgreens has come and to build trust based on many years of being in the pharmacy and retail business.

The Walgreens Alumni Association keeps retirees and former employees of Walgreens Co. in touch. Walgreens offers high schools the chance to have one of their representative come do a presentation for students about a career in retail or pharmaceuticals. Since pharmacists are in high demand, exposing students to careers Walgreens has to offer gets students interested and connects Walgreens to a younger generation.

Walgreens gives customers the opportunity to donate directly to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Last year these donations generated $5.2 million. Having this option makes customers feel good about their trip to Walgreens. They are making donations too; Walgreens Co. has given $1.2 million to United Way to improve the social welfare of communities.

One-on-one tutorial programs for students have been established in seven inner cities across America. Walgreens mainly focuses on giving back to children and their aging customers. The PR department makes sure they have diversity among their community relations tactics. Other efforts they support are the American Red Cross, Abraham Lincoln Center, Expo for Today's Black Woman, Detroit Branch of NAACP, Houston Ebony Music Society, and Junior Achievement.

Another idea, since they do focus on children and health, is going to elementary schools during flu season and talking to them about the correct way to wash their hands, eating healthy, etc. I am genuinely impressed with the way Walgreens has become part of communities across the country. They have gained respect and allowed their business to thrive by respecting customers, employees, the public. Most importantly they not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk. Walgreens' PR practitioners truly understand reputation is the sum of relationships an organization has built.