Wal-Mart gives $500K to student social efforts

NEW ORLEANS Wal-Mart Saturday, through its charitable arm, The Wal-Mart Foundation, awarded a $500,000 grant to the Clinton Global Initiative University commitment-makers at its inaugural meeting at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to Wal-Mart, the grant will fund student and university efforts to make a difference in the areas of energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation. These awards were announced by President Clinton and Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.

The Wal-Mart Foundation will award $350,000 to two universities and the remaining $150,000 will go to 35 students and student groups. The recipients will be selected by the Clinton Global Initiative University and distributed in August.

"As a company focused on environmental sustainability at every level, the Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to partner with CGI U to reach hundreds of students and university officials who, like Wal-Mart, are committed to making a change to improve the environment for generations to come," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "By partnering with organizations like CGI U, we are also able to connect with pioneering experts that will, in turn, help Wal-Mart in our goal to become a more sustainable company."