Grant and Transportation Support Help Lay 355,000 Wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day this December
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, and BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Dec. 12, 2012 — Today, Wreaths Across America™ (WAA) announced a $150,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to help fund the placement of more than 355,000 remembrance wreaths across the country — including 105,000 at Arlington National Cemetery — on Saturday, Dec. 15. WAA is a nonprofit organization, whose mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies on National Wreaths Across America Day each December. This is the fifth consecutive year that Walmart has supported Wreaths Across America.
“Walmart has been an invaluable partner over the last several years, and this year’s donation will help us honor so many more veterans who fought to protect our freedoms,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “Every Walmart employee involved — from the drivers delivering wreaths, to individuals volunteering their time to lay wreaths across the country — have given so much of their time and energy to support our mission. We are incredibly grateful.”
Walmart also donates transportation services through its network of distribution centers across the country. Nearly 100 professional drivers will transport wreaths from Harrington, Maine, to their final destinations at more than 800 locations throughout the United States.
“The men and women of our nation’s military are among the most spirited and talented of Americans, who not only serve to protect our freedoms abroad, but make great contributions to our workforce and way of life here at home,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “This year we are honored to help Wreaths Across America reach the great milestone of laying the one-millionth remembrance wreath to honor our nation’s heroes and their families, and to remember the sacrifices they’ve made.”
Wreath sponsorships and volunteers for Arlington are still needed. For more information, “like” Wreaths Across America on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/ArlingtonWreaths or follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WreathsAcross.
About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. The organization’s mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies on National Wreaths Across America Day each December at Arlington, as well as hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief and Nutrition, Sustainability, Workforce Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. To date, Walmart has donated more than 1 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
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