Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced that over the last fiscal year they gave more than $21.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions to support nonprofit organizations and programs in Kentucky focused on fighting hunger and healthy eating, workforce development, disaster preparedness, and other needs specific to many Commonwealth communities.
“Walmart is happy to call Kentucky home to over 100 Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers,” said Kevin Thompson, public affairs director for Walmart in Indiana “With the help of our associates and dozens of local community organizations, we are able to have a significant impact across the Commonwealth, inside and outside the walls of our stores.”
The Kentucky contributions are one piece of the $1.42 billion dollars total giving by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation during FY16. The contributions have furthered Walmart’s “whole systems” approach to continue advancing its commitments to creating economic opportunity for associates and others in the retail and related sectors, enhancing the sustainability of Walmart’s operations and product supply chain, and strengthening communities in places where Walmart operates.
In Kentucky contributions made by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation support local nonprofits like:
● Junior Achievement’s ‘Achieve Kentucky’ initiative for career success training
● Neighborhood House of Louisville
● Apple Patch Community, Inc. and their wheelchair lift vans
The lack of availability of wheelchair-accessible transportation had been a limitation to Apple Patch residents’ community involvement and participation in local activities.
“These wheelchair vans give me independence,” said Apple Patch resident Becky W. “These vans are wonderful not just for me, but for everyone at Apple Patch. I like to go shopping and now I will get to go with my friends.”
In October 2014, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a commitment to help feed a growing planet by enhancing the sustainability of the food system. The commitment will further Walmart’s goals of fighting hunger in the U.S. by improving access to food and includes a goal to provide four billion meals to those in need between 2015 and 2020. As part of that commitment, in FY16 Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated 611 million pounds of food and $61 million in funding to organizations working to alleviate hunger.
As part of that commitment to fight hunger in Kentucky in FY16, Walmart also donated:
● 10.3 million pounds of food to local food banks
● That food donation is the equivalent of 8.6 million meals
● In addition, Kentucky’s Walmart associates volunteered a total of 38,350 hours performing local community service work.
For more information see Walmart Foundation