Publix has grown into a responsible corporate entity

Publix has grown into a responsible corporate entity

By Don Valentine

Merit needs to be awarded to Publix grocery store. In 1930 George Jenkins opened the first Publix store in a sleepy area of central Florida. In the last 85 years it has had i’s “hic-cups”, but grown to become the preeminent Floridian grocery chain.

Among the other corporate retail giants like Wal-Mart, or Target they are the only Florida company that quietly backs the community. Specifically, take note of the variety of Free medication that Publix provides to the community.

Publix does not charge even a nominal fee for these medications. Every other source chooses to charge an exorbitant fee for medication. Publix gives high blood pressure medication like Lisinopril for no charge. In 2007 they expanded this program to include multiple antibiotics like penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and more.

In March 2010, Publix announced the launch of another free prescription, Metformin for Type II Diabetes, the generic of Glucophage. Publix provides the medication in 500 mg, 850 mg and 1,000 mg strengths. They provide them, with prescription, to the public at no charge.

Last year they expanded their provisions for A.C.E. inhibitors to include free amlodipine. This is a dynamic resource, in particular, for the African American community. According to the American Heart Association [heart.org] 40 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks will contract high blood pressure. Publix provides two of the most common high blood pressure medications for free!

It is no surprise that Fortune magazine rated them from 1994 – 2009 as “One of the Most Admired Companies”. Our society would blossom if the other corporations followed Publix lead as a steward of its community.

Don Valentine Free Lance Writer U.C. Berkeley ’89 B.S. Psychology, McGeorge Law School J.D. ‘92