Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom 

Summer break brings a sense of optimism — warmer weather is here, and the promise of adventure is on the horizon. Whether you’re headed to a far-off destination or a backyard barbecue, it’s important to be prepared. This isn’t about worry; it’s about readiness. The kind that lets you follow the sunshine and stay open to detours — the good kind. Having the right tools on hand can transform the experience from “hope nothing goes wrong” into “I’ve got this no matter what.”

Every journey has a rhythm, and summer break is extra busy

Summer travel often means more traffic, more crowds and the potential for accidental bumps, slips and mishaps. That’s why experts consistently recommend a few simple rituals before heading out, like checking travel advisories and weather alerts near your destination, sharing itineraries with someone at home and becoming familiar with evacuation plans in case of fires or other emergencies.¹ These aren’t meant to curb spontaneity but to build confidence, the type that keeps travelers grounded even while chasing adventure. 

What travelers pack when they’re thinking ahead

Packing for a summer trip often means debating how many swimsuits is “reasonable,” but seasoned travelers know that a few smart additions can prevent an inconvenient moment from becoming a vacation‑altering incident.

For starters, consider a lightweight first‑aid kit with basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, motion‑sickness tablets and prescription medications. These small tools can help travelers avoid unnecessary medical visits for minor issues during busy vacation months.²

Just as important is having a backup of documents and essential information. Digital copies of passports or IDs, an extra payment method and emergency contact info can save the day if wallets are lost during an excursion.

And of course, sun protection and hydration helpers are key for sunny destinations. Regardless of whether the sun is shining solo in a bright blue sky or it’s hiding behind clouds, it’s important to keep sunscreen, SPF lip balm, reusable water bottles and even basic bug repellent — these can help prevent the discomforts that time outdoors short or lead to unexpected medical costs down the line.³

Thinking outside the … suitcase

Now that your bag is packed, what about your financial preparation? Many families quietly doublecheck their insurance coverage before leaving home, simply to understand how unexpected medical bills would work if someone is sick or injured. It’s a subtle, practical step — one that doesn’t overshadow the excitement of the trip. 

“We want to make memories during our vacation time, not create debt,” said Aflac Senior Vice President and chief customer officer, Keith Farley. “But with play often comes some bumps and bruises. Accident insurance is one way many families give themselves a bit of extra peace of mind, not just during summer break, but year-round.”

Ready for the sunshine

In the end, summer break is about quality time and experiences with the people we care about. Travelers can’t prepare for everything, but they can build a foundation that lets them stay present for the moments that matter. With a few thoughtful steps, a smartly packed bag and the kind of quiet planning that supports all the fun, summertime can unfold exactly the way travelers imagine it: bright, refreshing and wonderfully memorable.

 

¹American Red Cross. (2025). How to stay safe on vacation. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2025/how-to-stay-safe-on-vacation.html 
² Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Traveler’s First-Aid Kit. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/travelers-firstaid-kit
³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Summer travel. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/summer-travel-abroad 

A37000 Series: In Delaware, Policies A371AA & A371BA. In New York, Policies NY371AA & NY371BA. In Oklahoma, Policies A371AAOK & A371BAOK. Not available in ID or VA.  A38000 Series: In Delaware, Policies A38100DE – A38300DE & A382OFDE. In Idaho, Policies A38100ID – A38300ID. In Oklahoma, Policies A38100OK – A38300OK & A382OFOK. In Virginia, Policies A38100VA – A38300VA, & A382OFVA. Not available in NY or PA.

Coverage/plan levels may not be available in all states. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Plans and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact plans and riders for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For availability and costs, please contact your local Aflac agent/producer.

Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

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July 31, 2026 /3BL/ – The KeyBank Foundation announced an investment of $240,000 in YWCA Hamilton to bolster its Goodman Place Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program, which provides affordable housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who have a certified disability diagnosis. 

Using grant funds from the KeyBank Foundation, YWCA plans to expand and strengthen the PSH program by funding a full-time Case Manager. With this addition, residents will receive enhanced support in daily living skills, lease compliance and community engagement activities. These services can lead to increased housing retention, improved mental health, stronger recovery outcomes and greater social connection.

“We consider our partnership with KeyBank to be a representation of how private business and nonprofits can strengthen their communities,” said Wendy Waters-Connell, CEO of YWCA Hamilton. “Board members serve to govern this mission and resources from KeyBank are supporting the services for those who need it the most. This is what true collaboration looks like when we are working together to make our part of the world better than it was before.”

 

Expanding Opportunity Through Stable Housing

Stable housing creates the foundation for improved health, economic mobility and long-term well-being. Through its investment in YWCA Hamilton, KeyBank Foundation is confident in its partnership with a trusted community organization to help individuals experiencing chronic homelessness access safe housing and the supportive services needed to build independent, stable lives.

For individuals facing significant barriers to housing, access combined with ongoing support can create opportunities for lasting success, stronger community connections and a brighter future. The investment will help YWCA Hamilton continue delivering life-changing resources to some of Butler County’s most vulnerable residents. 

“Goodman Place offers the type of transformational support that creates lasting pathways to stability and economic mobility,” said Natasha Martin, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer. “At KeyBank, we’re committed to investing in programs that aim to remove barriers, expand opportunity, and empower individuals to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. We are so proud to partner with the YWCA to help more individuals across Southwest Ohio thrive.”

 

A Proven Model for Housing Stability

Currently, Goodman Place houses 45 individuals in fully furnished, one-bedroom apartments, with the capacity to serve up to 55 individuals annually through transitions and new admissions.

The program has a proven track record of helping individuals achieve long-term stability: 

• Served 148 over the past three fiscal years.
• Maintained high participant satisfaction and housing stability outcomes. 
• Residents remained housed for an average of more than 1,200 days annually, demonstrating long-term stability.
• Combines affordable housing with supportive services to help prevent returns to homelessness. 

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $191 billion at June 30, 2026.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 950 branches and approximately 1,100 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

ABOUT KEYBANK FOUNDATION 

KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that supports organizations and initiatives aimed at improving financial wellness, education, and community development. Through strategic philanthropy, KeyBank Foundation works to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.

ABOUT YWCA HAMILTON

YWCA Hamilton is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Through youth empowerment programs, permanent supportive housing, and Butler County’s only domestic violence shelter and 24/7 crisis hotline, YWCA Hamilton provides trauma-informed services that strengthen individuals, families, and communities while creating opportunities for safety, stability, and success. For more information, visit www.ywcahamilton.org.

Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom

Key points

• Pharmacy-focused sites to open in select communities to help increase access to pharmacy care
• Openings are part of ongoing commitment to serve communities and meet consumers where they are

WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 31, 2026 /3BL/ – CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) unveiled its first pharmacy-focused CVS Pharmacy® in Houston. The new pharmacy, located at 8503A Gulf Freeway in south Houston, will help bridge gaps in pharmacy care and make it easier for community members to access medications, immunizations and other health care services provided by pharmacists.

Nearly 20 pharmacy-focused locations will open in select communities across the country, increasing access to vital pharmacy care. Each site will feature a full-service pharmacy with a customized selection of over-the-counter products available for purchase. With footprints averaging around 3,000 square feet, the pharmacy-focused locations will help ensure patients have access to prescription medications and the trusted advice and counsel of their neighborhood CVS pharmacist.

“Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals in the communities they serve,” said Sid Tenneti, Senior Vice President and Interim President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. “Our new pharmacy-focused locations optimize how we engage with communities by expanding access to trusted care, clinical expertise, and personalized support. We help people get the guidance, medications, and pharmacy care services they need where, when and how they need it most.”

Multiple pharmacy formats to meet community health needs

The new pharmacy-focused locations are just one component of the company’s work to reinvent pharmacy. By taking a customized approach focused on the diverse needs of the communities they serve, CVS Pharmacy has worked to strategically realign its retail footprint over the last few years. The new pharmacies will help the company better support its patients in those communities, ensuring its footprint is the right size and scale, and addressing shifts in the pharmacy industry.

These smaller neighborhood pharmacies join several other formats already in place across the country. They include CVS Pharmacy’s traditional full-service front store and pharmacy locations, store-in-store pharmacies, such as those inside Target and Schnucks grocery stores, CVS Pharmacy stores that feature a MinuteClinic retail medical clinic, and side-by-side CVS Pharmacy and Oak Street Health care centers, primarily located in neighborhoods with high Medicaid populations.

The company has opened pharmacy-focused locations in Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, and in Washington, D.C. In addition to the new site near the Gulf Freeway, two additional pharmacy-focused locations are planned in the greater Houston area over the next year. The company also plans to open more than 40 new CVS Pharmacy locations, including traditional stores and pharmacies in Target.

Importance of one-on-one interactions with pharmacists

The 2025 CVS Health® Rx Report highlighted that 80% of patients prefer face-to-face pharmacy care, and nearly half (48%) would switch pharmacies if limited to digital-only options. The overwhelming majority of pharmacy professionals (97%) also say in-person interactions remain vital.

Added Tenneti, “Access to local, timely health care matters – which is why, whether in-person, online, or a combination of the two, our community pharmacists provide trusted counsel and best-in-class service through consistent, personalized experiences that focus on helping patients become their healthiest.”

“In the expansive Greater Houston metropolitan area, being able to walk into any of our pharmacies, speak directly with a pharmacist, and have in-person access to pharmacy services is important,” Thanh Hoang, Pharmacy Manager, CVS Pharmacy. “Our pharmacists live and work within the communities they serve and because authentic connections are created through meaningful interactions, patients and customers trust their local pharmacy teams.”

Whether a patient prefers the convenience of same-day or 1- to 2-day prescription delivery or prefers to visit their local pharmacy in-person, CVS Pharmacy is ensuring patients have multiple care options to choose from, depending on their individual needs.

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About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 88 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

Media contacts

Shannon Dillon
346-291-7131
Shannon.Dillon@CVSHealth.com

Amy Thibault
401-318-2865
Amy.Thibault@cvshealth.com