NARSAD to present Productive Lives Award to Randy Lewis

Oct 30 2009

Randy Lewis, the SVP of supply chain and logistics for Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, will receive the first ever Productive Lives Award from NARSAD tonight at its 22^nd annual New York Awards Dinner at the Pierre Hotel. Today show contributor Gail Saltz, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill-Cornell School of Medicine, will emcee the event. NARSAD (www.narsad.org) is the world’s leading charity dedicated to funding mental health research.

Lewis is being honored for his commitment to providing an inclusive workplace for people of all abilities, including those with mental illness. More than 30% of the workforce has a disability at Walgreen’s newest distribution centers in Anderson, SC, and Windsor, CT. The company’s goal: 10% of its entire distribution center workforce differently abled by 2010. Presenting the award will be Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico who has been instrumental in helping pass one of the most significant mental-health bills in U.S. history—The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Says Sen. Domenici: “The workplace is the critical last barrier to overcome the last great discrimination in this country—the stigma associated with being mentally ill. No American company has done more to break down this barrier and create unprecedented inclusive opportunity than Walgreens. Our hope is that Walgreens will serve as a model and catalyst for other employers to see the workplace in a new way and recognize the potential of those who have been denied opportunity—and life dreams—for so long. Walgreens is truly the cutting edge of what is possible.”

Says Stephen Lieber, NARSAD Chairman, “With the remarkable progress in psychiatric treatment and the new development of rehabilitation practices, the time is ripe to help build productive lives for those suffering from mental disabilities. Many who were kept out of the workforce by disabilities are finally being recognized as potentially productive workers. This is a win-win situation for society as a whole, as people who were dependent become independent, as people who are isolated become members of the working community, earners and taxpayers. When the question is raised as to whether people with mental illness are employable, Walgreen’s proves unequivocally, yes! The company’s success belies the prejudice and stigma; people with all types of disabilities have demonstrated outstanding performance, team effort and sincere loyalty.”

Randy Lewis’ own experience as a father of a child with autism was what first propelled him to make workplace changes.”People with disabilities die a death of a thousand cuts,” he says. “They may talk differently, they may look differently and they suffer the unkindest cut, which is the belief by most of us that people with disabilities can’t do the job. Our latest distribution centers, which each have a workforce of more than 30% people with disabilities, are both 20% more efficient than any of our other facilities. I know team members with disabilities who provide 150% of our standard expectation. People discover their gifts, harness their abilities and, in turn, realize their contributions. We went into this project wanting to change the work environment. But we soon discovered we were the ones who changed in dramatic and wonderful ways.”

In addition to the inaugural Productive Lives Award, NARSAD will present its 22^nd annual prizes for psychiatric research to eight scientists. Please visit www.narsad.org for this year’s list of prizewinners along with additional background on how their contributions in the areas of schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and childhood mental illness are leading to significant breakthroughs for diagnosis and treatment.

http://www.walgreens.com/