CVS/Pharmacy Downtown 5K to Serve as the 2005 USA Women's 5K National Championship -- Rhode Island's Largest Road Race Will Now Feature Both the Men's and Women's 5K National Championships -- WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K has been selected by USA Track and Field (USATF) to serve as the 2005 USA Women's 5K National Championship. The CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K is Rhode Island's largest road race. It has served as the USA Men's 5K National Championship since 2002. The 2005 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K will be the first time both Men's and Women's 5K National Championships will be held at the same race. "We are very excited about the impressive field of runners expected to compete for both the Men's and the Women's 5K National Championships in our 2005 race," said Jack Kramer, Race Chairman of the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K. "Being selected by the USATF to serve as women's national championship race is wonderful recognition of our efforts to make our event the premier 5K race in the country." The news was announced at a luncheon held today at the University Club in Providence, Rhode Island, where CVS/pharmacy presented 39 local charities, schools and athletic programs with a total of $100,000 raised from the 2004 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K, held last September in Providence. "The CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K provides us with the opportunity to benefit our community in a number of ways," said Kramer. "It brings world-class athletic competition to Rhode Island, promotes health and fitness to young and old, and raises money for some very worthy local organizations." Proceeds from the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K were presented to the following non-profit organizations: * A Wish Come True * American Heart Association * American Red Cross -- RI Chapter * Autism Project of Rhode Island * Bradley Hospital * Children's Shelter of Blackstone Valley * Family Resources Community Action * Kids First * National Junior Olympics Cross Country * Rhode Island Free Clinic * Thundermist Health Center The following schools received $500 each for their athletic programs in a random drawing for all schools that brought running teams to the CVS Downtown 5K: * Bishop Hendricken High School * Cedar Hill Elementary School * Cumberland High School * La Salle Academy * Lincoln High School * North Providence High School * North Smithfield High School * Pilgrim High School * Portsmouth High School * St. Joseph's School The CVS Downtown 5K also made donations to the following schools and organizations that provided volunteers on race day: Bishop Hendricken, Chariho High School, Civil Air Patrol of Rhode Island, Coventry High School, East Greenwich High School, East Providence Townies, Exeter High School, Jaguars Youth TC, La Salle Basketball Team, Lincoln High School, North Kingstown High School, North Kingstown Recreational Track Team, Rhode Island Boys Coaches Association, Rhode Island Girls Coaches Association, Rhode Island Interscholastic League, Rhode Island Middle School Coaches Association, Rhode Island Track Coaches Guild, Sentinel Striders and Toll Gate High School. In the five years that CVS has been the sponsor of the Downtown 5K, the road race has raised over $400,000 to benefit schools and charities in Rhode Island. The 2005 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K is set for Sunday, September 11th in Providence. CVS will announce complete details about this year's race in the months ahead. About CVS CVS is America's #1 retail pharmacy, operating more than 5,000 retail and specialty pharmacy stores in 36 states and the District of Columbia. With more than 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy industry, CVS is committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use. CVS has created innovative approaches to serve the healthcare needs of all customers through its CVS/pharmacy stores; its online pharmacy, CVS.com; and its pharmacy benefit management and specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare Management Services. General information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's website, at http://investor.cvs.com/. CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis CVS/pharmacy (401) 770-2645 Mary Heath CVS Downtown 5K (401) 423-3333 DATASOURCE: CVS/pharmacy CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis of CVS/pharmacy, +1-401-770-2645; or Mary Heath of CVS Downtown 5K, +1-401-423-3333 Web site: http://www.cvs.com/ http://investor.cvs.com/

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