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Customers and associates contribute an additional $115 million through company-sponsored fundraisers - bringing total giving to more than $415 million
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) announced that in 2006 the company gave more than $300 million -- or $5.8 million per week -- to support its 6,700 world-wide communities. Global donations last year reflected a $30 million increase over 2005. In addition to the philanthropic support provided by the company, Wal- Mart's customers and associates donated more than $115 million in individual contributions through company-sponsored fundraisers. Overall, Wal-Mart contributed more than $415 million to charitable organizations at the local, national and global levels last year.
"As our company has continued to grow, so have the dollars we've given to support our local communities," said Ray Bracy, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. "We are glad to be in a position to make a real difference -- not just through our own corporate donations, but also by encouraging others to give. The generosity of our customers and associates has shown no end, and neither will our commitment to them."
Corporate giving at Wal-Mart is governed by a philosophy that was instituted by the company's founder, the late Sam Walton: operate globally and give back locally. The majority of the company's giving occurs at the local level as each Wal-Mart and Sam's Club location is empowered to support the issues and causes that are important to their neighborhoods. This grassroots style of philanthropy encompasses the small things, such as sponsoring a local sports team, and the big things, like funding college scholarships, helping The Salvation Army raise more than $30 million through its Red Kettle campaign, and assisting emergency responders in times of disaster.
America's Largest Corporate Cash Contributor
Last year Wal-Mart was recognized by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest corporate cash contributor in America. In 2006, Wal-Mart gave more than $270 million to support its 4,000-plus U.S.-based communities. Charitable contributions from Wal-Mart support a variety of causes and issues in the areas of education, the environment, health and human services, civic and community groups, and culture and the arts. (Editor's Note: For a breakdown of donations by state, please see the final two pages of this release.)
Examples of giving at the U.S.-level include:
-- The National Teacher of the Year program provided $4.9 million to
schools across the country and honored top teachers. Since its
inception in 1995, Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program has
recognized more than 25,000 teachers nationwide. Overall, Wal-Mart
contributed more than $57 million in support of educational
initiatives in 2006.
-- Children's Miracle Network, a national organization that aids
children's hospitals across the country, is one of the most
significant recipients of Wal-Mart giving. In 2006, it is estimated
that the company and its customers provided nearly $34 million in
support of CMN, including $6 million from Wal-Mart Canada.
-- The Salvation Army has a long-standing relationship with Wal-Mart, and
in 2006, Wal-Mart demonstrated its support for the organization's Red
Kettle Campaign by once again allowing the volunteer bell-ringers in
front of stores and clubs. Donations collected in Red Kettles at
Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations reached an all-time high of
$30.4 million, accounting for 25 percent of all donations to Red
Kettle campaign. In 2006, the company hosted "Bells Ringing Across
America," a nationwide event that featured associates ringing the
bells in front of stores and clubs nationwide to encourage donations.
Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott launched the event from a store in Bentonville,
Ark., where he announced a $1.25 million contribution from the Wal-
Mart and Sam's Club Foundation to the annual campaign.
-- The United Way of America and Wal-Mart have had a partnership for
nearly 20 years. In 2006, Wal-Mart associates gave nearly $10 million
to support the United Way's programs, which like Wal-Mart giving, are
focused on helping people in their own communities. In response, the
company provided a dollar-for-dollar match bringing total United Way
giving last year to nearly $20 million.
-- Wal-Mart donated $5 million to America's Second Harvest -- The
Nation's Food Bank Network and developed a partnership to increase
awareness of hunger in America. Through customer donations at Wal-Mart
and Sam's Club locations nationwide, an additional $3.7 million was
raised to purchase and distribute protein-rich foods to individuals in
need through America's Second Harvest member food banks.
-- When disaster strikes, Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations can be
counted on to work with disaster relief agencies, supporting their
lifesaving work and helping communities to begin the recovery effort.
In 2006, Wal-Mart donated nearly $2 million in cash and products to
support 75 disaster relief operations in 35 states, including $425,000
to respond to the devastating floods in the Northeast U.S. in June
2006.
-- Wal-Mart partnered with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational
organization behind Sesame Street, and provided $1.5 million to
develop an outreach project aimed at helping children of military
personnel deal with the challenges of deployment. The company also
gave $500,000 in toys and gifts to military families with loved ones
deployed overseas through its "Operation Christmas" initiative in
partnership with Operation Homefront.
-- Wal-Mart also donated $1 million or more to numerous charitable
organizations, including, but not limited to, the American Cancer
Society, the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Mercy Health
System of Northwest Arkansas, the MLK Memorial Fund, the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation, the National Urban League, Northwest Arkansas
Community College, and the Special Olympics.
Gifts of Time
Volunteering is also a key component of Wal-Mart's corporate giving philosophy. Associates are strongly encouraged to become involved in organizations that make a positive difference in the local quality of life, and Wal-Mart gives grants to qualifying organizations in recognition of associate volunteer hours. Last year, associates donated more than 1 million volunteer hours resulting in $5 million in grants to the organizations supported through volunteer efforts.
Charitable organizations interested in receiving support from the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Foundation are advised to visit their local Wal-Mart store, Neighborhood Market or Sam's Club location.
2006 Giving Overview
State Total Contributed Total Contributed and Raised
(Cash + In-Kind Donations)
U.S. $272,908,303 $373,207,520
International $28,895,890 $45,120,807
TOTAL $301,804,193 $418,328,327
2006 State-By-State Giving
State Total Contributed Total Contributed and Raised
(Cash + In-Kind Donations)
Alaska $540,152 $745,976
Alabama $5,197,534 $7,474,075
Arkansas $37,016,824 $40,490,184
Arizona $5,697,993 $7,421,649
California $11,943,210 $16,498,679
Colorado $4,079,430 $5,462,567
Connecticut $1,731,610 $2,525,440
Delaware $556,395 $758,084
Florida $12,798,091 $19,099,648
Georgia $10,497,010 $14,370,016
Hawaii $599,445 $978,090
Iowa $2,979,417 $4,584,756
Idaho $1,000,295 $1,473,432
Illinois $13,677,585 $17,474,597
Indiana $5,719,437 $8,790,502
Kansas $3,040,186 $4,478,785
Kentucky $4,714,789 $7,107,530
Louisiana $5,542,923 $7,761,813
Massachusetts $1,884,434 $3,443,705
Maryland $2,587,244 $3,735,068
Maine $1,134,723 $1,999,636
Michigan $4,452,562 $6,887,484
Minnesota $3,514,548 $4,898,341
Missouri $8,686,403 $11,903,116
Mississippi $3,305,916 $4,803,284
Montana $864,472 $1,316,653
North Carolina $6,920,515 $10,413,977
North Dakota $617,239 $963,086
Nebraska $1,827,771 $2,644,234
New Hampshire $1,376,182 $2,227,989
New Jersey $4,032,009 $5,010,922
New Mexico $1,967,355 $2,867,628
Nevada $1,845,561 $2,596,194
New York $8,705,328 $11,719,718
Ohio $7,432,938 $11,112,684
Oklahoma $4,873,464 $7,161,208
Oregon $2,560,427 $3,183,491
Pennsylvania $8,617,768 $13,087,887
Puerto Rico $2,011,226 $2,923,325
Rhode Island $424,312 $762,483
South Carolina $3,270,182 $5,646,650
South Dakota $733,490 $1,230,320
Tennessee $8,399,010 $11,257,109
Texas $25,649,707 $35,232,282
Utah $2,667,781 $3,684,217
Virginia $16,034,210 $18,880,892
Vermont $181,438 $515,038
Washington $2,480,650 $3,470,818
Wisconsin $4,102,602 $6,378,317
West Virginia $1,803,506 $2,854,763
Wyoming $610,998 $899,172
U.S. TOTAL $272,908,301 $373,207,518
* Totals may not match due to rounding differences.
Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Web site:
http://www.walmartstores.com/
http://www.walmartfacts.com/
http://www.walmartfoundation.org/
http://www.walmart.com/
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