CVS awards grand prize in Ways You Care contest

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS announced Monday the grand prize winner and nine finalists for the For All the Ways You Care contest, a nationwide search for inspirational stories of caring.

Taking home the grand prize of $25,000 was Judy McAtee of Plano Center, Ill. McAtee, who was nominated by her husband Pat, is a foster mother to more than 30 children, and is a mother of 12 including 10 adopted children. In addition to caring for children less fortunate, McAtee has formed an inter-racial adoption support group for families as well as “Special Gifts” seminars designed to share the experiences of foster care and adoption of special needs children.

In addition, the nine finalists received a cash prize of $10,000.

In a similar For All The Ways You Care contest for employees, Denise Walker, a CVS pharmacy technician from Fries, Va., was named a winner.

Last summer, Walker donated a kidney to co-worker Jenifer Utt who was gravely ill with diabetes. The surgery, performed in July 2007, was a success.

The contest winners were selected by a panel of women supporting the campaign: Lee Woodruff, author and wife of ABC news correspondent and anchor Bob Woodruff; Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise Alliance and wife of Colin Powell; women’s health experts Dr. Donnica Moore and Dr. Alice Domar; and Ladies’ Home Journal editor-in-chief Diane Salvatore.