FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 17, 2009

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AND WALGREEN WELLNESS TOUR ARRIVES IN LOUISVILLE PROVIDING FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AND SERVICES

Louisville, KY – With the goal of promoting better health in urban communities across the country, the National Urban League and Walgreens Wellness Tour will arrive in Louisville to provide six free health screenings.

The National Urban League and Walgreens Wellness Tour, in cooperation of the Louisville Urban League, features a 40-foot mobile health screening and education vehicle, which will provide urban communities across the country with free access to health screenings. Through the wellness tour, the National Urban League and Walgreens will provide six health screenings, which are collectively valued at $140. The health screenings provide a critical foundation for early disease detection and prevention. All services take place inside the customized vehicle and include screenings for blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, cholesterol levels, waist circumference and body mass index.

Screenings results are instantly provided and consumers are encouraged to visit a doctor or health care provider to discuss the results. Visitors will also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues.

People in urban communities experience disproportionately higher rates of preventable disease.  As been proven through previous year’s programs, health screenings are a critical method for detecting potential diseases before symptoms are noticed. In fact, of those screened during the 2008 tour:

• 65% had high body mass index
• 64% had high blood pressure levels
• 50% had a waist circumferences outside of the normal range
• 32% had high cholesterol levels
• 25% had low bone density
• 14% had high glucose levels

 “This third-annual partnership represents two organizations coming together to achieve a common goal. Walgreens has valued working with the National Urban League and its local affiliates to provide the resources that allow people in urban communities access to free preventative care,” said John Gremer, Walgreens Director of Community Affairs. “Together we can provide healthy outcomes and touch the people in communities who benefit most from these services.”

“The National Urban League is proud to partner with Walgreens to bring free screenings and health education information to urban communities across the country,” said Marc H. Morial, NUL President and CEO. “By providing these basic health services we are allowing members of urban communities the opportunity to prevent diseases before symptoms are noticed.”

The National Urban League's State of Black America 2008 reports that blacks are impacted by higher rates of obesity, substance abuse and diabetes. Specifically, blacks experience diabetes at almost twice the rate of whites, are more likely to be obese than their white counterparts and are less likely to have health insurance and likewise receive lower health care benefits throughout their lifetime.

Additionally, according to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 9.5 percent of all Hispanic/Latino Americans (2.5 million) have diabetes. Obesity and physical inactivity are the main risk factors for diabetes among Hispanic/Latino Americans and diabetes is twice as common among Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican Americans as among whites.

Not only are minority groups more susceptible to certain illness and less likely to recover than other groups, but there is an alarming lack of affordable health care available to them. The National Urban League and Walgreens Wellness Tour and the Louisville Urban League encourage members of urban community to act as their own health advocates by visiting the health screening vehicle when it stops in Louisville.

The National Urban League and Walgreens Wellness Tour is one of two national health screening campaigns created by Walgreens. A separate tour, the AARP / Walgreens Wellness Tour, is also crossing the country providing free health screenings and services. The six screenings available at the National Urban League and Walgreens Wellness Tour are:

Total Cholesterol Screening:

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years. Some 23 percent of adults reported that they never had their cholesterol checked. Studies have shown lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease. Through a finger stick blood test, participants are given their total cholesterol level. They’re also provided with educational material on healthy cholesterol levels and ways to lower their cholesterol.

Glucose Screening:

Glucose is a form of sugar that is the body’s primary fuel; glucose broken down from food can be converted into energy or stored. Blood glucose levels may indicate risk for diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. There are nearly 24 million people in the United States who have diabetes, and 25 percent of those are unaware that they have the disease. Visitors will be given their glucose level, via finger stick blood test, and information on diabetes awareness.

Blood Pressure Screening:

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition affecting one in three American adults. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Among people with high blood pressure, 65 percent do not have their condition under control. Visitors will receive their blood pressure reading and educational materials.

Bone Density Screening:

Osteoporosis is a disease that slowly thins and weakens bones. Ten million Americans are estimated to have the disease, and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass. Bone density testing is the best way to determine bone mass and reveal present and future risk of fracture. The screening is done via foot ultrasound and takes 60 seconds with immediate results.

Body Mass Index:

An estimated 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older – over 72 million people – are obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Body fat, not weight, is the better measure of one’s health and fitness. Visitors will be given a percentage of body fat reading using a body mass index analyzer, a hand-held machine that sends a weak electric current through the body and then estimates body fat percentage and body fat index.

Waist Circumference:

Waist circumference is a horizontal measurement of the abdomen above the upper hip bone. It can be useful for those people categorized as normal or overweight in terms of BMI. High waist circumference is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease when the BMI is between 25 and 34.9.

Below are the dates, hours, and locations for the FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS in the Louisville area.*

Louisville, KY 40203

Louisville, KY 40210

Louisville, KY 40218

Louisville, KY 40212

Louisville, KY 40251

Louisville, KY 40203

Louisville, KY 40210

Louisville, KY 40218

Louisville, KY 40216

Louisville, KY 40214

*Actual value may vary. No appointment necessary. Adults 18 years and older. Event time and locations are subject to change. Depending on current wait time, registration may close prior to stated event end time should the tour reach maximum capacity.

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About Walgreens

Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG;) www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,679 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in

America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems,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.

About the National Urban League

National Urban League (www.nul.org) - Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social  mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.

About the Louisville Urban League

The Louisville Urban League is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization serving the community since 1921.  The mission of the Louisville Urban League is to assist African Americans, other minority groups and the disadvantaged to attain social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy.  For more information about the Louisville Urban League, go to www.lul.org.