Walmart rises to community engagement
Walmart is making a major financial commitment to local charitable initiatives.
The discount giant is transforming its community engagement program with a new effort called Walmart Rise. To kick off the initiative, Walmart is giving an additional $5,000 to every store and distribution center across the U.S. this year, totaling over $24 million, to help their local communities. Other Walmart Rise programs will be rolled out further in the coming year.
The community funds are designed to boost Walmart’s expected local community grant giving to nearly $70 million in this fiscal year. Facility managers will be asked to engage associates in helping decide how the $5,000 is invested. For example, associates may be encouraged to decide which causes will have the most impact in their neighborhood.
Walmart’s current community giving includes a variety of organizations, such as animal shelters, elder services and community clean-up projects. Last year, Walmart gave more than $42 million in local grants, provided over 3 million free health screenings and donated more than 640 million pounds of food to local food banks. Additionally, associates volunteered 776,000 hours to organizations in their communities.
“We’re part of neighborhoods and communities across the country, 4,800 of them. The role Walmart and our associates play in communities is an important part of our company’s heritage and a source of pride for us.” said Greg Foran, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “We believe it’s a competitive advantage for us to support our communities while we provide convenient access to affordable, healthier food, good jobs, disaster relief and support for local causes our customers and associates care about.”
The discount giant is transforming its community engagement program with a new effort called Walmart Rise. To kick off the initiative, Walmart is giving an additional $5,000 to every store and distribution center across the U.S. this year, totaling over $24 million, to help their local communities. Other Walmart Rise programs will be rolled out further in the coming year.
The community funds are designed to boost Walmart’s expected local community grant giving to nearly $70 million in this fiscal year. Facility managers will be asked to engage associates in helping decide how the $5,000 is invested. For example, associates may be encouraged to decide which causes will have the most impact in their neighborhood.
Walmart’s current community giving includes a variety of organizations, such as animal shelters, elder services and community clean-up projects. Last year, Walmart gave more than $42 million in local grants, provided over 3 million free health screenings and donated more than 640 million pounds of food to local food banks. Additionally, associates volunteered 776,000 hours to organizations in their communities.
“We’re part of neighborhoods and communities across the country, 4,800 of them. The role Walmart and our associates play in communities is an important part of our company’s heritage and a source of pride for us.” said Greg Foran, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “We believe it’s a competitive advantage for us to support our communities while we provide convenient access to affordable, healthier food, good jobs, disaster relief and support for local causes our customers and associates care about.”