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
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
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 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
www.mowaa.org.
SOURCE Walmart Foundation
Deisha Galberth of Walmart, 1-800-331-0085
