Longs Drug Stores today received the 1999 National Walk to Cure Diabetes Leadership Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF), an honor bestowed annually on their top 10 corporate supporters. Longs received the award for their fundraising efforts in support of JDF, having raised over $325,000 through a combined effort of all 418 stores, Longs' customers and employees.

"It's great to be working together with JDF on such an important goal - curing a disease which kills one American every three minutes and costs our nation over $105 billion a year in health care expenses," said Martin Bennett, Longs Senior Vice President, Marketing. "That's why we are committed to raising money for cutting edge research. By working together, we can make a difference."
Longs has been a strong JDF supporter over the past several years, raising over $1 million since 1994 in support of the JDF Walk.

"We are immensely appreciative of Longs Drug Stores participation," said Peter Van Etten, President and CEO of Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (JDFI). "The enthusiastic commitment of Longs and all of its employees enables us to accelerate our research to more quickly find a cure for diabetes. Insulin is life support, not a cure. This is corporate citizenship at its best."

The Walk to Cure Diabetes is held in over 225 cities worldwide. Last year more than 350,000 people walked to cure diabetes and over 6,000 corporations participated to raise over $56 million. This year, the Walks are expected to top $66 million.

The Longs Drug Stores contribution helps fund JDF's programs and research efforts. A testimony to the efficiency of their organization, 84 cents of every dollar contributed goes directly to research and education. JDF's business-oriented approach to funding research is designed to bring about a fast-track application of research results to improve the lives of people with the disease. Volunteers help raise funds through an international major gift program, "The Only Remedy Is a Cure Campaign," their "Walk to Cure Diabetes" program which is held around the world, and through other events such as golf tournaments, celebrity dinners, and auctions.

In their mission to find a cure, JDF collaborates with not only individuals with diabetes and their families, but also with world-leading diabetes researchers and academic institutions; foundations, corporate partners, individual donors and volunteers; government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Veterans' Affairs; the Medical Research Councils of Australia, Canada.

JDF is the world's leading nonprofit, nongovernmental funder of diabetes research. It was founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes. JDF's mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research and, since its inception, it has given more than $326 million to diabetes research worldwide. For more information, visit the JDF website: www.jdf.org or call the Greater Bay Area Chapter at 415-977-0360 or 1-800-WALK-JDF.

Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE:LDG) is one of the most successful drug store chains in North America. Founded in 1938 by brothers Joe and Tom Long as "Longs Self-Service Drugs", the Company currently operates 418 stores in California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon. Annual sales average over $9.3 million per store. Longs' unique strategy includes competencies in the key categories of pharmacy, over the counter medications, photo, and cosmetics, as well as other convenience offerings. Longs' web site blends consumer services and health-related information with a variety of data about the company. Longs' community health screening schedules, on-line prescription refills and pharmacist access, coupons, a monthly health topic, and the latest company news and investor information are regular features of the site which is located on the Internet at www.longs.com.

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