Walmart Foundation Donates One Million Dollar Grant to The Salvation Army
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 2, 2016) – As part of its commitment to addressing hunger, the Walmart Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to The Salvation Army to aid the national nonprofit’s hunger relief programs. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have partnered with The Salvation Army for over 40 years, providing support through grants and contributions to the Red Kettle Campaign. Each year, nearly 5,000 red kettles are stationed outside Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations.
“The Salvation Army is one of the largest social service organizations meeting the needs of individuals and families in communities across the U.S. ,” said Karrie Denniston, Sr. Director Walmart Foundation. “Through our support of the Salvation Army’s work, they will be able to ensure that more children and families receive nutritious meals year-round.”
The $1 million grant supported nutrition in Salvation Army programs nationwide during 2015 including summer day camps; summer residential camps; and summer feeding, after-school and child-care programs. These services offer a safe environment for children with working parents and engage participants with enriching activities such as fitness, fine arts, academic support, reading and family activities. With the grant, The Salvation Army provided an additional 248,000 nourishing meals to nearly 64,000 recipients, more than 38,000 of whom were 12 years old or younger.
“Hunger relief is often the entry point for people in need to come to us. When the immediate need of hunger is met, overall health and wellness improve,” said Commissioner David Jeffrey, national commander of The Salvation Army. “We appreciate partners like Walmart and the Walmart Foundation for supporting our continued efforts to alleviate hunger in children and families.” The Salvation Army is grateful to all its national and local corporate partners for their support, which helps provide assistance to 30 million Americans each year.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using its strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better. With stores in 28 countries, Walmart employs over 2.3 million associates and does business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation help people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably grown food a reality; building strong communities where it operates; and inspiring its associates to give back. Whether it is helping lead the fight against hunger in the U.S. with $2 billion in cash and donations or supporting women’s economic empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories Training Program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues but also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. About 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services including food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. For every dollar donated to The Salvation Army, 82 cents is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, see salvationarmyusa.org or on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.
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