Arizona non-profits receive $170,000 from Walmart Foundation

PHOENIX, Arizona (Feb. 6, 2018) – Today, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation proudly announce the donation of $170,000 to six charitable organizations across Arizona. These grants recognize and support local non-profit groups working to meet the needs of the underserved and positively impact Arizona communities.

“As one of Arizona’s largest private employers, we consider it our responsibility to give back to our communities – and that includes supporting outstanding philanthropic organizations working hard every day to make Arizona a better place,” said Paula Ginnett, Walmart vice president and regional manager in Arizona. “We are grateful to these groups for dedicating their time and talent to worthy causes that create opportunity and improve quality of life for our friends and neighbors. Walmart will continue to be a proud partner in their efforts.”

The recipients of Walmart State Giving grants include three organizations in the greater Phoenix area.
• Civitan Foundation, Inc., based in north Phoenix, is a nonprofit that provides innovative programs and services aimed at educating and empowering Arizonans with developmental disabilities. Civitan’s $30,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation will help support its Hunger Relief and Transitional Employment program, which delivers free, USDA-approved meals and snacks to low-income children in north Phoenix during the summer, while providing career training and employment to individuals with developmental disabilities.

“Thanks to this generous grant from Walmart, Civitan is able to expand our culinary program for our members and increase the number of meals we can provide to children who often go hungry when school is not in session,” said Dawn Trapp, CEO, Civitan Foundation.
• Military Assistance Mission’s receipt of $40,000 will help support the organization’s GI Gap Grant – a program that was created to financially assist active duty and Reserve service members as they transition into college or a trade school after military service.

“It is important to Military Assistance Mission that Arizona heroes can focus on the next chapter of their lives, versus worrying about how they’re going to pay for basic needs or feed their families,” said Margy Bons, CEO, Military Assistance Mission. “We are pleased to partner with Walmart in helping our service members further their education as they transition to civilian life. Their commitment and patriotism will benefit generations to come.”

• Operation Welcome Home AZ has received $25,000 to support Welcome Home Veterans Park, a 7.7 acre park
located in the Town of Gilbert which will serve as a place of reflection, healing and inspiration to veterans, their families and the community.

“We are so grateful for Walmart’s generosity. Their contribution will help veterans and their families get the resources they need for healing,” said Lisa Rigler, President of Operation Welcome Home. “There is no better way to teach youth gratitude and patriotism than to introduce them to a Veteran. Operation Welcome Home Veteran’s Park is a remarkable opportunity for us to connect the community to our Veterans and to begin to understand the price of freedom. This site will be hallowed ground for every American.”
The additional grant recipients include organizations in Flagstaff, Pinal County and Metro Tucson. They are:
Flagstaff
• Flagstaff Shelter Services – $25,000
Pinal County
• Pinal Hispanic Council – $25,000
Metro Tucson
• Emerge: Center Against Domestic Abuse – $25,000

The Walmart Foundation supports organizations by awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. This most recent round of grants brings the total amount in awarded to Arizona non-profits by the Walmart Foundation in 2017 to $630,000.

In 2016, Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs and the Walmart Foundation awarded $28 million in cash and in-kind donations to Arizona charities, including 15 million pounds of food donated to local food banks, which is the equivalent of 12.5 million meals. For additional information on Walmart’s economic impact in Arizona, please visit http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-locations#/united-states/arizona.
About Philanthropy at Walmart By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping 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; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind 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, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit http://www.foundation.walmart.com.
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