March of Dimes Names CVS President, CEO Larry Merlo Citizen of the Year

CVS Caremark has contributed nearly $900,000 to the March of Dimes since 1998 under the leadership of President and CEO Larry Merlo, named Citizen of the Year by the charity Tuesday night.  

March of Dimes presented Merlo with the honor during a reception at the Providence Public Library, which in itself raised $150,000 for March of Dimes' mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality, according to the company's release on the evening. The event also helped celebrate the 75^th anniversary year of March of Dimes and the 50^th anniversary year for CVS Caremark, headquartered in Woonsocket.

The event was chaired by Deborah Thomas, CFO of Hasbro, Inc., and 2010 recipient of the March of Dimes Citizen of the Year award, and included guest speakers Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the national March of Dimes Foundation, and James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO of Tufts Health Plan, and the grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who founded the March of Dimes to bring an end to polio, 75 years ago.

"The support that CVS Caremark has provided to the March of Dimes for over a dozen years has been vital in helping the organization fulfill its mission of working together for stronger, healthier babies. Through Larry’s leadership and the company’s commitment to being an incredible community partner, the nation’s tiniest human beings are being given a boost for a healthy start in life,” Thomas said.

Thomas noted the company’s support of the March of Dimes of Rhode Island NICU Family Support Project and the March of Dimes Mom and Baby Mobile Health Units. The Project – which Hasbro also supports – assists more than 1,100 families annually at Women and Infants Hospital – providing them with information and comfort during the NICU hospitalization of newborns, and help during the transition to home and in the event of death. The Mobile Health Units provide services for women and children in rural areas around the country.

“It's an honor to be recognized and I commend the March of Dimes for the work they are doing to help expectant moms and ensure they have the healthiest babies. Our purpose of helping people on their path to better health aligns with the March of Dimes' mission and we couldn't be more proud of our long-standing partnership to improve health outcomes for children and families in our home state,” Merlo said.