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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 26

New Jersey’s First Charitable Pharmacy

Honors Six Leaders and Raises More Than

$45,000 at National Pharmacy Week Celebration

Senator Vin Gopal and NCPA’s Mark Ey join 150 guests to celebrate more than

$3 million in free medications for underserved New Jersey patients

Left to Right: Ritesh Shah, NJ State Senator Raj Mukherji, State Senator Declan O’scanlon, Left to Right: Ritesh Shah, Award recipient NJ State Senator Raj Mukherji, Asha Shah and
Award recipient Mahesh Shah, Asha Shah, and RSCP President Kunal Patel RSCP President Kunal Patel

OUR BUREAU resents more than 800 independent
pharmacies
FREEHOLD, N.J.
Hosted by Rob Relovsky and Ri-
he Ritesh Shah Charitable nal Patel, the program featured Sen-
Pharmacy (RSCP), New Jer- ate Majority Whip Vin Gopal, who
Tsey’s first and only charitable represents the 11th Legislative Dis-
pharmacy, celebrated National Phar- trict. Keynote speaker Mark Ey, Chief
macy Week on Oct. 22, 2026. Its Ap- Operating Officer of the National
preciation Breakfast and Awards Cer- Community Pharmacists Association
emony at Aurum Events & Catering (NCPA), also addressed the room.
in Freehold drew 150 guests. Together, Both spoke about the importance of
they honored six leaders in pharmacy RSCP’s work for New Jersey patients
and public service and raised more who cannot afford their medications.
than $45,000 for RSCP’s mission. During the program, RSCP pre-
Ritesh Shah, a pharmacist and sented a $5,000 check to NCPA. Mark
author of Pills to Purpose, founded Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane extending his remarks to RSCP founders Ritesh and Asha Shah Ey accepted it with Sonja Pagnia-
RSCP with Asha Shah, who also vol- no, Executive Director of the NCPA
unteers as a pharmacist there. Togeth- filled more than 5,200 prescriptions tor Vin Gopal to secure Foundation.
er, they built RSCP so that no one in for over 100 patients, saving them $100,000 in the state budget for RSCP The morning closed with a gift
New Jersey goes without medication more than $700,000. Nearly half a • Dr. Joseph Howe, Deputy Commis- for every guest: a bag holding a blood
because they cannot afford it. million dollars of that was insulin and sioner at the New Jersey Depart- pressure monitor and a handwritten
Since opening, RSCP has dis- diabetes medication. In October, the ment of Education and RSCP note from an RSCP patient, written
pensed more than $3 million in free Union County Commissioners award- President from 2023 to 2025 on a red paper heart. For many RSCP
prescription medication to over 680 ed RSCP a grant to continue the part- • Mahesh Shah, pharmacist for more patients, the medication they receive
uninsured and underserved patients. nership for another year. than four decades and former mem- is lifesaving. Guests were asked to use
It has built 10 community partner- Ritesh Shah and RSCP President Kunal ber of the New Jersey their monitors or give them to some-
ships, and its volunteers have given Patel presented awards to six honorees: Board of Pharmacy one in need, putting 150 chances to
more than 500 hours. • Senator Raj Mukherji, Marine • Steve Hendrickson, CEO of Aspire catch high blood pressure early into
In Union County, RSCP works Corps veteran and recipient of the Health Pharmacy Services and new the community.
with the County’s Office of Health New Jersey Pharmacists RSCP board member The more than $45,000 raised at
Management to deliver prescriptions Association’s Mortar and Pestle Award • Brian Oliveira, pharmacist and Ex- the event will help RSCP provide free
two to three times a week. Since No- • Senator Declan O’Scanlon, who ecutive Director of Garden State medication to more patients as it ap-
vember 2023, the partnership has worked across the aisle with Sena- Pharmacy Owners, which rep- proaches its fifth anniversary in 2027.

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