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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust announced on Tuesday that $3.3 million in grants has been awarded to 72 nonprofit organizations across the country.

About half of these grants align with CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program focused on making life easier for children with disabilities and for their families. The other half of the grants will provide support for medical services for the underinsured and uninsured.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has entered into an agreement with the National Patient Safety Foundation to become the nation's first retail clinic provider to implement the Ask Me 3 health literacy program.

MinuteClinic will launch the program in early 2011 in its approximately 500 medical clinics located inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

CINCINNATI — Kroger recalled select packages of pet food sold in some of its retail stores because the products may contain aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical byproduct from the growth of a certain fungus.

The recall affects Kroger stores in 17 states, as well as Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker's stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's stores in Illinois and Indiana.

PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — CVS/pharmacy, the New York State Fraternal Order of Police and dozens of volunteers came together on Dec. 19 at Easter Seals New York's child development center, Project Discovery, to distribute toys, food and coats to families in need.

CHICAGO — Millennium Pharmacy Systems on Friday announced the appointment of Phil Keough as EVP and COO.

"Millennium's innovative and cost-effective medication management approach offers critically needed solutions to the long-term care market,” Keough said. “By eliminating drug waste, enhancing administrative processes and improving patient safety, Millennium is changing the face of pharmacy solutions in the marketplace.”

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In a major alliance to foster preventive health in the United States, Walgreens has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide free flu vaccinations to as many as 350,000 low-income and uninsured Americans.

Walgreens will provide more than $10 million worth of vouchers for free flu shots, which HHS will help distribute.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Rite Aid is a glass-half-full/glass-half-empty kind of company. If your glass is half full, you’re looking at the sequential improvements in pharmacy margins and front-end comps, and the excitement around the chain’s still-new Wellness+ loyalty program. If your glass is half empty, you’re making note of the seven straight quarters of script declines and the fact that Rite Aid had to lower sales projections … again. Our glass is half full.

WILMINGTON, Del. — A Delaware judge granted Walmart's request for a preliminary injunction on Wednesday and has blocked — for now — CVS Caremark from hiring former Walmart executive Hank Mullany as president of CVS/pharmacy, according to published reports.

Vice chancellor J. Travis Laster scheduled a trial for early March.