Retailer’s Contribution Comes Amid Rising Food Prices and
Expected Influx in Charitable Donations from Economic Stimulus Checks
BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 30, 2008 – Unveiling research that indicates 30 percent of Americans plan to donate at least a portion of their government-issued economic stimulus checks to charity, Wal-Mart today announced a $1.5 million donation to America’s Second Harvest. The contribution – which will provide approximately 16 million meals and add thousands of children to the organization’s BackPack program – comes as food prices continue to rise and hunger relief organizations nationwide struggle to meet higher demands during tough economic times. The retailer hopes that check recipients throughout the country will follow suit and help support the nation’s hungry.
“Supporting America’s Second Harvest food banks – especially in light of today’s economic landscape – is something that all of us at Wal-Mart want to do,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “This contribution, coupled with our ongoing food donation program, helps ensure that this organization is able to continue getting food to communities that need it most.”
One-third of the Wal-Mart Foundation’s $1.5 million contribution to America’s Second Harvest will go to help expand the hunger-relief organization’s BackPack Program. The program currently provides weekend backpacks filled with healthy and nutritious food to more than 70,000 at-risk children and this donation will help add thousands of children to the program.
Wal-Mart also announced that the rollout of its America’s Second Harvest food donation program to all Sam’s Club locations throughout the country will be complete by the end of the summer. The program stocks community food banks with unsold items that are still healthy and fit for consumption including meat and baked goods.
“Wal-Mart’s monetary support and food donation program are making a significant, positive impact in communities throughout the country,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO, America’s Second Harvest. “In the midst of this current food shortage at food banks nationwide, it is comforting to know that we can count on partners like Wal-Mart to help America’s hungry get the food they need.”
The retailer is currently piloting a similar food bank donation program at Wal-Mart. Once completed, it is estimated that Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores combined will contribute more than 70 million pounds of food to America’s hungry each year.
Personal donations to America's Second Harvest can be made online at http://www.secondharvest.org.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and its 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 company supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability, and health and human services. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com/community.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Wal-Mart serves more than 176 million customers weekly in 14 markets. The company’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. For more information: www.walmartfacts.com.
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