14 nonprofit organizations recognized for their commitment to local residents
· 2016 Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign underway in Walmart stores. Program concludes April 25, 2016.
Des Moines – April 14, 2016 – Walmart and the Walmart Foundation awarded more than $530,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations over the last year for their dedication to the state of Iowa. Through its State Giving program, the Walmart Foundation awarded grants to ten nonprofits dedicated to serving residents through its core areas of giving, including hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, career opportunity and women’s economic empowerment. An additional four organizations received donations as a result of their participation in the company’s 2015 “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign The 2016 Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign is currently underway and runs through April 25.
“Walmart is proud to support these 14 organizations and their efforts to help residents across the state live better,” said Kyla Luckie, Walmart regional general manager. “Through our community support, we are able to champion local nonprofit groups that address key issues including hunger, career opportunity and economic advancement.”
Walmart Foundation State Giving Program
Twice a year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation look for organizations that address the needs of the communities they serve and make a significant social impact on a local and state level. The following ten nonprofits received a Walmart Foundation Iowa State Giving grant to fund vital local programs:
· Clarke County Hospital Foundation received a $31,000 grant to purchase equipment and supplies to promote and fund educational classes and events to teach healthy eating and cooking skills on a budget.
· Elder Services Inc. received a $52,000 grant to purchase a new refrigerated van for its Meals on Wheels program, which transports meals from the agency’s kitchen to homebound individuals.
· Fellowship Cup Corporation received a $30,000 grant to purchase a new delivery van that will be used as a mobile food pantry to serve those in need in Henry County.
· Food at First received a $35,000 grant to fulfill their mission to "Recycle & Reuse" food by purchasing a van that will be used to pick-up food donations in the Ames area.
· Goodwill of the Great Plains received a $25,000 grant to fund its YouthBuild program, training at-risk youth on skilled trades, including green construction, plumbing, weatherization, HVAC, and more, in order to earn credits towards earning a high school diploma.
· Henry County Health Center Foundation received a $25,000 grant to implement strategies to expand area medical transportation and improve organizational and community collaboration to increase access to care and support services for the residents of Henry County.
· Northeast Iowa Food Bank received a $72,000 grant to purchase a new refrigerated truck to offer reliable transportation and delivery services to member agencies and support the organization’s mobile food pantries and nutrition programs.
· Spencer Dream Center received a $35,500 grant to help construct a residential kitchen at the organization’s center dedicated to the rehabilitation and support of homeless women in the community.
· St. Stephens Food Bank received a $28,000 grant to purchase a larger refrigeration unit to store nutritional food and fresh produce that will be distributed to the underserved population of Dubuque and Jackson counties.
· Systems Unlimited Inc. received a $44,000 grant to purchase a wheelchair van that will be modified to accommodate and transport individuals in Iowa City and surrounding communities.
To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. For more information, visit http://foundation.walmart.com/
Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign
Launching in 2015, the nationwide Fight Hunger. Spark Change. initiative encouraged customers, suppliers and associates to get involved in hunger relief efforts. Iowa food banks that were participants in the inaugural campaign and received donations included:
· Food Bank of Iowa received a $56,424 donation
· HACAP Food Reservoir received a $21,824 donation
· Northeast Iowa Food Bank received a $26,644 donation
· River Bend Foodbank received a $47,845 donation
“We are so thankful to Walmart, not only for their financial support, but for their leadership across the country in making sure all food that cannot be sold but can still be eaten is donated to help feed hungry people,” said Michael Miller, executive director of River Bend Food Bank.
The 2016 Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign launched in early April and encourages customers to support hunger relief efforts in three unique ways: (1) by making a donation to their local Feeding America food bank at the register, (2) by purchasing select products from partnering food companies or (3) by participating in the #WeSparkChange social media challenge. Nationwide, the efforts have raised more than $10 million to support Feeding America and its affiliate food banks across the country.
# # #
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million customers and members visit our 11,554 stores under 72 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2015 revenue of $485.7 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.
About Philanthropy at Walmart:
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visitwww.foundation.walmart.
