Walmart Foundation Kicks-Off $32 Million Holiday Giving Campaign With Historic Hunger Relief Effort |
Donated Refrigerator Trucks Expected to Help 35 U.S. Food Banks Provide 41
Million Additional Meals to Families in Need
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Walmart and
the Walmart Foundation kicked-off "Walmart Gives Back," a holiday giving
initiative that will provide $32 million in monetary and in-kind donations
to charitable organizations across the U.S. Executives from Feeding America
and Meals On Wheels joined Walmart to launch the historic campaign by
sending off a convoy of 35 trucks donated by the Walmart Foundation.
Valued at $3 million and loaded with Great Value-branded products and
fresh apples, the new refrigerator trucks will arrive at Feeding America
food banks in Miami, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Boston, Memphis and 30
other communities in time for Thanksgiving. Feeding America estimates that
these refrigerator trucks will enable the food banks to transport up to
52.5 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 41 million additional meals,
per year.
"In this economy, families and seniors across the country who rely on
food banks have been hit especially hard," said Margaret McKenna, president
of the Walmart Foundation. "As Walmart stores continue to be the price
leader on groceries, our partnership with Feeding America is helping us do
our part to put more food on the dinner table. Our business and our
charitable giving are united in the commitment to eradicate hunger in
America."
The donated refrigerator trucks are the Walmart Foundation's response
to a call from food banks that were unable to safely transport nutritious
produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other nutritious food donated
from Walmart stores and other grocers. Since last November, Walmart stores
and Sam's Club locations have donated more than 90 million pounds of food -
the equivalent of 70 million meals - to Feeding America food banks,
exceeding the company's goal and making Walmart Feeding America's largest
food donor.
"With more than 90 million pounds of food donated to Feeding America's
network of food banks, Walmart is Feeding America's top corporate partner
in the fight against hunger," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of
Feeding America. "These 35 new refrigerated trucks are critical to the food
banks and will make an enormous impact in allowing the safe transport of
nutritious food to millions of people in need around the country. No
American should go hungry, and we are proud to partner with Walmart and
fight to end domestic hunger."
In addition, the Walmart Foundation announced today a $2.2 million
grant to Meals On Wheels Association of America. Through this funding, 140
Meals On Wheels programs across the nation will upgrade or replace delivery
vehicles, stoves, refrigerators and freezers. These improvements will help
increase the number of meals provided to the one in nine seniors facing the
threat of hunger.
"When people think of hunger in the United States the elderly do not
come to mind. The reality is, though, that hundreds of thousands of our
country's seniors are going to bed hungry right now. Those are our mothers,
our fathers, our veterans, the people who raised us," said Enid Borden,
president and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America. "We are
thankful that the Walmart Foundation understands that senior hunger is a
major problem and can be eradicated. I applaud Walmart for stepping up to
the plate, once again, to help us deliver the next meal so no senior goes
hungry."
As in years past, the majority of Walmart's holiday giving will happen
at the local level with more than $24 million donated from the Walmart
Foundation to nonprofits in the communities where Walmart's 4,000 stores
and clubs are located. In addition, the Walmart Foundation will, once
again, donate $1.25 million to The Salvation Army and Red Kettles will
fundraise at Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations nationwide from
Friday, Nov. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 24.
Later this holiday season, Walmart will announce additional recipients
of its Walmart Gives Back holiday giving initiative. For more information,
visit http://www.walmartgiving.com.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable
causes that are important to customers and associates in their own
neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the
Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in
education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental
sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through
January 31, 2009, Walmart - and its domestic and international foundations
- gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn
more, visit http://www.walmartfoundation.org.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the
fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic
hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25
million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million
seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks
support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. Feeding
America is headquartered in Chicago. For more information on how you can
fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit
http://www.feedingamerica.org.
About Meals On Wheels
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and
largest national organization in the United States representing those
programs that provide meals to people in need. To obtain more information
about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA
website at http://www.mowaa.org.
SOURCE Walmart Foundation
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CONTACT:
Deisha Galberth of Walmart, 1-800-331-0085
