The University of Scranton Receives $15,000 CVS Health Community Grant

The University of Scranton received a $15,000 CVS Health Community Grant to begin a yearlong smoking cessation program on campus. The program will be run through the University’s Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW).

The University was selected to receive a grant through the CVS Health Community Grants 2016 application process. This year, grants were specifically awarded to smoking cessation programs offered in a community setting that are helping people lead tobacco-free lives and are reducing the prevalence of smoking.

The Community Grants Program was created by CVS Health, as part of its commitment to help people achieve their best health by providing financial assistance to programs that are focused on smoking cessation and prevention. The grant is part of Be The First, CVS Health’s $50 million, five-year initiative to help deliver the nation's first tobacco-free generation and extend the company’s commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives.

“As a pharmacy innovation company, we are committed to building healthier communities and we believe that providing smoking cessation programs is one of the most effective ways to help people quit smoking and lead tobacco-free lives,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy at CVS Health. “We are pleased to support the work that The University of Scranton does in the community and we look forward to working with them in fulfilling their program’s mission.”

Earlier this year, CVS Health announced Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the first tobacco-free generation and extend the company’s commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives. With support and funding through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, Be The First supports comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming delivered by a group of national partner organizations. For more information about Be The First and CVS Health's broader commitment to tobacco-free living, please visit www.cvshealth.com/be-the-first.

The University of Scranton received a $15,000 CVS Health Community Grant to begin a yearlong smoking cessation program on campus. From left are: University students Mariah A. Ruther of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and Erica L. DeSanctis of Warrington, who serve as student peer educators at the University’s Center for Health Education and Wellness; Cathy Mascelli, assistant director, Center for Health Education and Wellness; Stephanie Adamec, director, Center for Health Education and Wellness; Pat Girard, CVS regional manager for upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont; and Luis Marrero, CVS district sales manager for Pennsylvania and New York.