ALS Therapy Alliance
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) is a devastating disorder in which there is progressive degeneration of motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord leading to paralysis and death, typically within three to five years. Thousands of individuals die of ALS each year in the United States. At this time, there is no treatment for this disease.
The ALS Therapy Alliance was formed by a group of New England scientists and clinicians who wished to interact and collaborate to study ALS. Today, the ALS Therapy Alliance has expanded its reach to scientists and clinicians worldwide.
Since 2002, CVS Caremark's retail division CVS/pharmacy has supported the mission of the ALS Therapy Alliance through a store-wide fundraising campaign that takes place in CVS/pharmacy locations. Together, CVS Caremark and its customers have raised more than $10 million dollars to support the ALS Therapy Alliance in its research efforts.
With the support of CVS Caremark, the ALS Therapy Alliance has played a central role in these and many other important projects.
- The ALS Therapy Alliance has been pivotal in establishing the ALS Clinical Trials Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, currently the largest single ALS trials facility anywhere.
- Scientists and clinicians from an array of ALS networks have met over the years to discuss their findings and implement new trials, thanks to the funds raised from the partnershio netween ALS Therapy Alliance and CVS Caremark
It is the conviction of the ALS Therapy Alliance that the support of CVS Caremark has already led to novel, ground-breaking initiatives in ALS research and that these initiatives will contribute directly to the development of new approaches to treating ALS.
CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
CVS Caremark invites coaches of Little League Challenger's Teams, Miracle League Teams or inclusive Little League Teams in the New England area an opportunity to attend a CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. Transportation and lodging are not provided.
CVS Caremark, in conjunction with the Boston Red Sox, have developed a baseball camp for children with disabilities to participate in regardless of their ability - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp at Fenway Park in Boston. Each selected team will receive the following for a total of 20 participants:
- Batting Practice in Red Sox Batting Tunnel with Red Sox Batting Coach Dave Magadan
- On-field Batting Practice with Red Sox Batting Coach Dave Magadan
- Walk Around the Warning Track; Photo and Autograph Opportunity with Red Sox Batting Coach Dave Magadan
- Photo Opportunity in Red Sox Dugout
- Boxed Lunches and Gift Bags inside Red Sox Dugout
- VIP Tour of Fenway Park
- Early Entry to Pre-Game Red Sox Batting Practice
- Tickets to Home Game in the CVS/pharmacy Family Section
Charting Our Future through the Highlander Charter School
The Highlander Charter School seeks to fundamentally redesign schooling in R.I. Highlander offers students highly personalized and rigorous academics in a real-world context, and empowers students to pursue their talents and passions by completing multidisciplinary projects. The school brings the community into the classroom and uses the community as a classroom.
Major Program Components
Family Engagement Program: Highlander boasts 100 percent parental involvement, which includes special events, open houses, committee work, chaperoning and classroom opportunities. Every student receives home visits in September. In addition, there are also three parent conferences each year.
Personalized Learning Plan: Students' passions, talents and strengths are recorded at the start of each semester, and the learning team articulates goals around specific academic content.
Broad Volunteer Work: More than 70 volunteers comprised of parents and community members touch all aspects of Highlander.
Project-based Learning Focus: Relevance, relationships and rigor are the fundamental building blocks of project work, which is student-generated.
Contact person
Rose Mary Grant
Highlander Charter School
42 Lexington Ave.
Providence, RI 02907
(401) 277-2600
www.highlandercharter.org
CVS Samaritan Vans
Helping People Since 1978
CVS Caremark provides a free roadside assistance service to motorists and the community in numerous cities. The CVS Samaritan vans are "emergency response vehicles" that patrol select major freeways of Chicago, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis, Providence and Washington, D.C. in search of motorists in need.
The drivers have a multitude of talents and certifications. They are Nationally Certified Auto Mechanics, State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics, and Nationally Certified Animal Control Officers. They are capable of making numerous onsite auto repairs, administering medical help, calming a tense situation or using their communication equipment to summon the state police or other assistance.
Each year, the CVS Samaritan Vans travel about 600,000 miles, checking and assisting nearly 50,000 people, and responding to more than 61,000 roadway incidents.
Services Include:
- Disabled vehicle repairs for stranded motorists
- EMT- or paramedic-level emergency medical assistance
- Vehicles and brush fire containment
- Small fuel, anti-freeze, and similar hazardous materials spills at accident scenes
- Traffic control
- Disabled vehicle relocation
- Animal rescue
- Unattended vehicles checked and tagged
- Hazardous debris removal from freeway and road shoulders
- Redirection for lost motorists
- Transportation of motorists and pedestrians to safe locations