NACDS Foundation Dinner Raises More Than $1.35 Million to Advance Community Healthcare Through Partnerships in Research, Education and Philanthropy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation celebrated its 26th Annual Foundation Dinner in Boston, MA, on August 17. The always-inspiring evening raised more than $1.35 million, which will help fund evidence-based research, pharmacy education and philanthropic initiatives to improve patient outcomes and advance population health.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta — CNN’s chief medical correspondent — headlined the event, which returned this year to the NACDS Total Store Expo and which brought together more than 550 industry leaders, academic partners, friends and colleagues to support the NACDS Foundation’s meaningful work to advance health and wellness for all Americans.

NACDS President and CEO and NACDS Foundation Chair Steven C. Anderson, FASAE, CAE, IOM kicked off the evening, “For more than a decade, the NACDS Foundation has been at the forefront of supporting research to identify new ways to care for our communities. Even small studies can have significant impact because they yield unique insights that can be scaled and duplicated across care settings.

“As Americans take interest in their ‘health span’ — not just their lifespan — the NACDS Foundation is exploring proactive solutions for population health. We’re also empowering the next generation of thinkers, problem solvers and experts who will advance public health with breakthrough ideas.”

NACDS Foundation President Sara Roszak, DrPH, MPH and NACDS Chair Kevin Host, PharmD, senior vice president of pharmacy, Walmart, also delivered remarks.

Host said, “Walmart supports the NACDS Foundation’s charitable mission to transform the accessibility of healthcare. From supporting underserved areas and rural communities to providing access to testing and treatment, chronic care management, and prevention, a meaningful difference is made across communities.

“The NACDS Foundation has been on the leading edge of these issues for quite some time, from point-of-care testing to HIV prevention. Walmart is excited about the Foundation’s new Food is Medicine research that will explore opportunities to improve the health of communities in profound ways.”

Roszak remarked, “Every collaboration, every partnership, every donation amplifies the NACDS Foundation’s national efforts, allowing us to create more meaningful and lasting change. Our motto ‘Cultivating Innovation in Care’ guides the Foundation’s work by addressing real-world health challenges and lifting up the next generation of healthcare leaders to be successful in this mission.”

Photos are available for use by the media.

View the NACDS Foundation videos that played during the Dinner.

The 27th Annual NACDS Foundation Dinner is set to be held Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina during the 2025 NACDS Total Store Expo in San Diego, CA.

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