Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced that over the last fiscal year they gave more than $11.2 million in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations throughout Nebraska. 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.
“As a global retailer, we can use our size and scale to make a tremendous impact on the communities we serve,” said Mindy Ellis, Walmart regional general manager for Nebraska. “By partnering with local nonprofits, we are able to pinpoint areas where Nebraska needs the most help and support programs that will better the lives of our customers and associates.”
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.
“I appreciate the Walmart Foundation’s commitment to supporting organizations that are an integral part of Nebraska’s communities,” said Senator Deb Fischer. “I thank Walmart for their leadership and ongoing work with local nonprofits to help others and improve the lives of many Nebraskans.”
In Nebraska, Walmart donated nearly 6 million pounds of food to local food banks—nearly 5 million meals in the last fiscal year. The retailer and its Foundation have partnered with the Society of Saint Andrew in the state of Nebraska to help the nonprofit glean across the state in order to feed residents who are in need of healthy meals for their family.
"The generosity of the Walmart Foundation in supporting the State Giving Program is greatly appreciated. The funding that the Society of St. Andrew has received will help us to firmly establish a presence in Nebraska,” said Mike Shambaugh-Miller, Society of St. Andrew – Nebraska. “In addition, it provides us with the resources to move forward with gleanings across the state this summer and next fall. The produce from those gleanings will find its way within hours to the plates of families whose diets are chronically short of the healthy foods many of us take for granted."
Nebraska Giving Highlights
• Total Walmart and Walmart Foundation contributions (cash and in-kind) - $11.2 million
• Total customer and associate giving - $860,000
• Total food donation – 5.9 million pounds
• Meal equivalent – 4.9 million meals
Nebraska nonprofits receiving grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation
• Heartland Hope Mission
• Food Bank for the Heartland
• Tabitha, Inc.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha
• City Impact
• Madonna School
• Society of Saint Andrew, Inc.
• Teammates Mentoring Program
