From R.I., a national impact

HEALTHY AT HEART: Joanne Dwyer's efforts to advance CVS Health's philanthropic goals have an impact on communities across the country. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
HEALTHY AT HEART: Joanne Dwyer's efforts to advance CVS Health's philanthropic goals have an impact on communities across the country. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

CVS Health Corp. is committed to advancing the physical and mental wellness of its millions of customers across the country. Joanne Dwyer, in turn, is dedicated to advancing that commitment beyond its retail footprint.

As senior director of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy for the Woonsocket-headquartered company, Dwyer is instrumental in establishing CVS Health’s social and philanthropic footprints.

Among her top accomplishments in her eight years with the company: helping to establish the public charity CVS Health Employer Relief Fund, which has provided more than $1 million to employees facing various hardships; conceiving numerous ways for CVS Health to reduce its environmental impact and annually increase its social responsibility; and facilitating partnerships and avenues of financial support through the CVS Health Foundation, which focuses on under-served and uninsured populations.

Most recently, Dwyer was an important player in CVS Health’s 2014 landmark decision to cease the sale of tobacco products in its stores.

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“I certainly took a great amount of pride in working on that initiative,” she said. She also stressed her admiration for her employer to “make such a bold step, put people’s health over everything else.”

Continuing in that vein, CVS Health has made a five-year, $50 million commitment to curb smoking among the country’s youth.

“We are really committed to ensuring that the youth in this country never start smoking, or those that do smoke work to get the tools to quit,” said Dwyer.

Having joined CVS Health in 2008 with an initial focus on marketing and media strategy – transitioning to her current position in 2014 – Dwyer said she has been aided by the “great benefit” of a “great mentor” in Eileen Boone, CVS Health’s senior vice president of social responsibility and philanthropy.

Boone, in turn, described her mentee as a passionate problem-solver.

“Joanne is known for her strategic and creative approach to identifying solutions, advancing strategy and improving outcomes for key philanthropic initiatives,” said Boone. •

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