Wal-Mart donates $423M for fiscal year

Bentonville, Ark. Wal-Mart Stores and its charitable foundations gave $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts for the company's 2009 fiscal year, a 25% increase from a year ago.

Wal-Mart said that, in the United States, it gave $378 million and that its international stores gave $45.5 million in cash and in-kind gifts. Employees and customers gave an additional $106 million through in-store giving programs that benefit local charities.

The company said in-kind contributions include more than 33 million pounds of meat, fresh produce and other foods that were donated to food banks. The company also supports various disaster-relief efforts.

Other aid has gone to military families, the Salvation Army, the Children's Miracle Network, the Special Olympics and numerous other entities.