The Walmart de México Foundation earmarks 430,000,000 pesos ($33.6 million) in 2010 to benefit 3 million Mexicans
- 13,200 tons of food will be delivered; 3,705 backyard gardens and farms will be built; products from over 100 communities will be sold, and some 75,700 volunteers will donate their time.
- A total of $1.18 billion pesos in cash and in-kind donations have been channeled.
México, D. F. a 20 de julio de 2010- As part of their commitment to nutrition programs, the Walmart de México Foundation announced that it has earmarked $430,000,000 pesos in 2010 for 250 social institutions with the purpose of benefiting three million people who live in conditions of severe food poverty throughout the country.
With this donation, the Walmart de México Foundation shall undertake the following activities: deliver 13,200 tons of food; build 3,705 backyard gardens and farms; sell products in Walmart de México stores that come from more than 100 communities, returning 100 percent of the profits obtained from said sale; and direct over 75,700 volunteers in support activities that have the purpose of lending a hand in those communities to which they pertain.
“For seven years now, the Walmart de México Foundation has worked on four pillars in favor of nutrition and development in remote communities: food donations, the building of backyard gardens and farms, the selling of products from different communities, and volunteerism. During the last three years, some $1.18 billion pesos in cash and in-kind donations have benefited over six million Mexicans, added to which are the three million that will be assisted with the donation of $430 million pesos –the highest amount of donations ever announced by the Walmart de México Foundation,” stated Scot Rank, Chief Executive Officer for Walmart Mexico and Central America.
The Walmart de México Foundation ceremony for the granting of donations for 2010 included the presence of people from the 250 beneficiary associations, Mr. Mejía Guzmán, Undersecretary of Human and Social Development, who represented Heriberto Félix Guerra, Secretary of Social Development; Adolfo Martín Hurtado, Technical Director for the FAO; and independent Directors from the Walmart Mexico Foundation: Mercedes Aragonés and Jorge Familiar Haro. Also in attendance were over 400 associates from Walmart Mexico and Central America.
With these actions, the Walmart de México Foundation seeks to drive nutrition and sustainable development in remote communities through production projects that improve their income and quality of life. A living example is José Nava Maurilio, a native Me Phaa Mexican from the high mountain region in the state of Guerrero. With a mere $240 pesos in monthly income and 8 children to support, he needed to leave his community to find work, thus having to leave his family for extended periods of time. His village offered very little chance to sell the Jamaica flower he grew due to a lack of sufficient market or customers able to purchase his product, despite the excellent quality.
In light of this situation, four years ago a group of farmers, including José, decided to unite and find a way to market their products. Two years ago they made initial contact with the Walmart de México Foundation and after a lengthy learning process by both sides, the stores belonging to Walmart Mexico now sell their organic Jamaica and honey. In addition to providing the farmers with training, they receive support with logistics and distribution of their wares. For José and his fellow farmers this is more than a simple success story, it means a secure source of income that allows them to provide for their families thanks to the fruit of their labor.
The following chart depicts how in the last three years, the Walmart de México Foundation has channeled over $1.18 billion pesos in cash and in-kind donations, benefiting more tan 9,000,000 Mexicans:
2008 $365,000,000 pesos 2.9 million beneficiaries
2009 $387,000,000 pesos 3.4 million beneficiaries
2010 $430,000,000 pesos 3 million beneficiaries
In addition, Scot Rank mentioned that as assistance for the victims of Hurricane Alex, the Walmart de México Foundation donated 115 tons of food and received 465 tons in donation from its customers and the public in general, which were taken to the 287 collection centers set up by the Company in its stores and clubs throughout Mexico City, Nuevo León, and Jalisco.
The Walmart de México Foundation was established in 2003 with the strong commitment of fostering sustainable feeding and development for poor communities through productive projects to improve their income and quality of life. From its inception, it has channeled over $1.5 billion pesos to aid over 12 million people with the participation of 195,000 associates who volunteer for community activities. The Walmart de México Foundation is one of the main food donors in Mexico and channels over 1.1 tons of food every month through Walmart de Mexico units.
http://www.walmartmexico.com.mx/respsoc.html