Pierre, S.D. – June 25, 2014 – Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced that over the last fiscal year they gave more than $3.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations throughout South Dakota. Globally, the company and its Foundation donated more than $1.3 billion to non-profit groups, surpassing the previous year’s total by more than $244 million.
“Helping people live better is the foundation of our business and by partnering with local nonprofits in the communities where we do business, we’re able to help tackle issues that affect our customers the most,” said Sharon Power, Walmart regional general manager for South Dakota. “Whether it’s helping to fight hunger or ensuring our youth have an education to achieve their dreams, we’re continuously cultivating nonprofit relationships that can help us make a widespread impact across the state.”
Additionally, since announcing the historic Fighting Hunger Together commitment in 2010 to donate 1.1 billion pounds of food and $250 million in cash by 2015, Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities have surpassed both goals one year earlier than projected. As of January 2014, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated 1.58 billion pounds of food, the equivalent of approximately 1.32 billion meals, and have awarded $260 million in grants to hunger relief programs in the United States, exceeding their original commitment by four percent. Overall, Walmart has exceeded $2 billion of cash and in-kind commitments to fight hunger at the local, state and national levels.
In South Dakota, Walmart donated more than 1.9 million pounds of food to local food banks—more than 1.6 million meals in the last fiscal year. The retailer and its Foundation have partnered with ONE Spirit in the state of South Dakota to provide meals to thousands of Lakota families this past year.
“The generous grant from the Walmart Foundation has made it possible for more than 3,000 Lakota parents, children and elders to have food this past winter. We have also been able to purchase a freezer that will be part of a food bank that can help to ensure that children no longer go to school hungry and that parents and elders do not have to do without food so the children can eat,” said Jeri Baker, director of ONE Spirit. “We are deeply grateful to the Walmart Foundation for making it possible.”
South
Dakota Giving Highlights
- Total Walmart and Walmart Foundation contributions (cash and in-kind) - $3.8 million
- Total customer and associate giving - $464,761
- Total food donation – 1.9 million pounds
- Meal equivalent – 1.6 million meals
South
Dakota nonprofits receiving grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation
- Feeding South Dakota
- Youth & Family Services, Inc.
- ONE Spirit
- Teach for America, Inc
For more information about the Walmart Foundation,
visit http://foundation.walmart.com.