8 Non-profits from around Oregon receive critical funding
January 3, 2012, Portland, Ore. – Walmart Foundation’s Oregon State Giving Council today announced $315,000 in grants to 8 non-profit organizations as part of its second round of statewide grants this year. The grants address community needs for issues such as dental care funding to purchasing additional capacity for fresh and frozen food donations.
“The Walmart Foundation is pleased to support so many wonderful non-profit organizations within Oregon. Their efforts to improve the community and assist in underserved populations are remarkable,” said Matti Havener, Walmart Regional General Manager for Oregon and Washington. “Whether it is through our pledge to help fight hunger, our support of education programs that help individuals achieve more than they thought possible, or the thousands of community volunteer hours by our Associates, we are truly proud to make a difference in the Oregon communities we serve.”
The first giving cycle, announced in June of 2012, provided $280,000 in grants to 11 non-profit organizations.
Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. The following contributions were made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Oregon State Giving Program:
- $25,000 - HIV Alliance, to expand oral health services to HIV positive individuals.
- $61,000 - Roseburg Dream Center, to purchase a food relief delivery vehicle for local food bank operations.
- $30,000 - Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, to support a new dental clinic in Beaverton for low-income families.
- $25,000 - Assistance League of Salem, for Operation School Bell program, which provides clothing for K-12 students in need.
- $50,000 - Marion-Polk Food Share, to fund Protein Patty Project
- $30,000 - Latino Network, to support the Tools for Schools Success program.
- $49,000 - Snow-Cap, to increase fresh food refrigerator and cold storage capacity.
- $45,000 - Dress for Success, for a new career center to promote workforce development efforts for women.
After receiving news that their grant applications were selected, recipients made the following remarks:
“‘Thank you’ seems like an insignificant set of words in the face of Walmart’s extravagant response to our need. They saw so clearly that this one thing, the donated funds to purchase an industrial freezer, will solve so many problems at once. Most importantly, families will have good frozen vegetables to cook for dinner very soon. This will mean an immediate upgrade in the diets of 8,000 people who eat from our shelves each month. We are so excited, excited and grateful! We are proud to list Walmart as one of our best supporters. We are just glad that Walmart has taken on the hunger issue so seriously. It is hard for a country to move ahead on empty stomachs. You are moving us forward, all of us,” said Judy Alley- Executive Director, SnowCap.
“Marion-Polk Food Share is pleased to consider the Walmart Foundation as a hunger-fighting partner in Marion and Polk counties where one in five families accesses emergency food assistance at least once a year. The funds will be used to help purchase equipment needed for the large-scale production of protein veggie burgers through an innovative educational/vocational program with the Oregon Youth Authority. Thanks to Walmart’s support, thousands of families will have a good source of protein available to them, and at-risk youths will gain job skills and hope for the future,” said Ron Hays, president of MPFS.
“Thank you, Walmart, so much for the generous support of our dental program for people living with HIV/AIDS in Oregon. The majority of our dental clients live in poverty. Having access to quality dental care makes a tremendous difference in their lives and their health. Walmart’s support will help us provide dental clinics to people living with HIV/AIDS in 19 rural counties in Oregon. Without this program these people would not be able to afford the dental care that they need and, as a result, their health and the status of their disease would worsen. Again, thank you. Walmart’s support for this program makes a tremendous difference for HIV-positive people living across rural Oregon,” said Diane Lang, Executive Director HIV Alliance.
To be considered for support, perspective 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. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion in cash and in kind contributions through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit foundation.walmart.com.
###