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Wal-Mart Gave More than $296 Million in 2007
By newsguy | October 6, 2008
Giving back to the community has always been a top priority for Wal-Mart, and 2007 was no exception. This past year, we donated more than $296 million to charitable organizations benefiting thousands of communities across the United States. What’s more, our associates and customers generously contributed an additional $106 million through company-sponsored programs. When combined with international donations, Wal-Mart’s global contributions totaled more than $470 million.
“We are proud to be in a position to make a real difference, not just through donations made by the company, but also by encouraging others to give,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “Our support last year helped students return to the classroom, local children’s hospitals care for terminally ill youth, disaster relief agencies pick up the pieces following natural disasters, and many other important charitable causes across the country.”
Financial and Volunteer Support
For the past two years, we have been recognized as the largest corporate cash contributor by Chronicle of Philanthropy, an honor we proudly share with our customers and associates. In addition to their individual donations, our associates volunteered more than 1 million hours to causes of their own choosing. In support of their dedication, the Foundation matched associates’ volunteer hours with $6 million in grants.
Many of Our Donations are Made at the Local Level
Others are made to national organizations that reach into communities around the country. A few examples of 2007 giving in the United States include;
Education: The Foundation donated $67 million to support various educational efforts. We also recognized more than 4,000 teachers across the United States in our 12th annual Teacher of the Year program, providing more than $5 million to schools in every community where we have a presence.
Hunger Relief: Wal-Mart donated $5 million to American’s Second Harvest food banks, and more than $35 million in merchandise. During a nationwide food shortage at food banks this past December, we were the first corporation to respond by dispatching 3 million meals to every state in the country.
Environmental Sustainability: We supported several environmental organizations and partnerships like the Rocky Mountain Institute and the University of Arkansas’ Applied Sustainability Center. In addition, 2,300 elementary schools in 12 states received donations as part of Wal-Mart Foundation’s Kids Recycling Challenge.
Health Care: This year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network with combined corporate and individual donations of $39 million, including more than $7 million from Wal-Mart Canada. Other donations went to the Delta Regional Authority, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association and Meharry Medical College, among others.
Disaster Relief: We continued our tradition of delivering relief in the wake of natural disasters by donating $4 million in cash and products to families affected by tornados, floods, wildfires and winter storms.
Military Outreach: With more than 3,000 associates currently on a military leave of absence, we hold America’s servicemen, women and their families close to our hearts by supporting several organizations devoted to the special needs of this community. During the 2007 holiday season, “Operation: Deck the Walls” brought holiday cheer in the form of cash donations and store merchandise to military families spending the holidays in Fisher Houses across the country. The Wal-Mart Foundation also provided funding to support veterans returning home from assignments abroad, as well as to organizations seeking to meet the needs of military families.
Salvation Army: Volunteer bell ringers stationed outside Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs collected $32.5 million, an all-time high accounting for more than 27 percent of all donations to the Red Kettle Campaign.
“We continue to be amazed at our associates’ dedication to give back to their local communities,” said McKenna. “And through our Volunteerism Always Pays program, we are pleased to back-up their volunteer activities with grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation.”
This list highlights just a few of the donations made in support of worthy causes across the country. Other recipients included United Way of America, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, United Negro College Fund, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mercy Health Systems, Special Olympics and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, among many others.
Global Giving
Wal-Mart operations outside of the United States increased their community support in 2007. Donations abroad last year were more than $41 million, up from $28 million in 2006. International associates and customers also made a big impact on Wal-Mart’s global communities, giving more than $30 million through company-sponsored fundraisers and events.
Wal-Mart’s global contributions for 2007 totaled more than $470 million, up from $418 million in 2006. Source: http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8010.aspx?p=223
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