Walmart awards grant to Northwest Arkansas Council
Walmart awarded a $500,000 grant to the Northwest Arkansas Council to support the advancement of healthy living and economic improvement initiatives throughout Northwest Arkansas.
The grant is part of a three-year commitment by Walmart to fund the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy, a regional growth and development plan spearheaded in 2010 by the Northwest Arkansas Council, local chambers of commerce and other organizations.
In its third year, the grant will impact more than 480,000 local residents through plans to increase access to and quality of education, job opportunities, healthy lifestyles and infrastructure improvements. Each of these areas of focus support Walmart's mission of creating greater opportunity in Northwest Arkansas by enhancing the quality of life for residents.
The Northwest Arkansas Council is a private, nonprofit organization committed to sustaining and improving the region as a great place to live and conduct business. Walmart founder Sam Walton was instrumental in establishing the Northwest Arkansas Council in 1990, and the organization played an active role in many of the region's most notable successes throughout the past 20 years.
Much like Walton's high interest in improving the region, Walmart and Sam's Club associates have provided their own, direct support to the Northwest Arkansas Council by offering hundreds of hours to participate in Northwest Arkansas-focused meetings and initiatives, and provide leadership in determining the most deliberate ways to accomplish many of the council's 55 strategic actions.
"We follow the philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally, and are committed to enriching the lives of the people in our community. By supporting partners such as the Northwest Arkansas Council that share our mission of improving quality of life for area citizens, and by working to provide solutions to the challenges facing our region, we can bring tangible improvements to the region," said Karen Parker, senior manager for Walmart's Northwest Arkansas giving strategy. "The Northwest Arkansas Council is an exceptional organization that shares our commitment, and together, we will continue to make great strides to bring economic growth and lifestyle improvements to our home."
Through The Northwest Arkansas Council's Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy, the grant provided by the Walmart Foundation will help raise the standard of living for local residents through programs that support educational achievement, job opportunities, healthy lifestyles and infrastructure improvements.
"We look forward to working with Walmart for the third year in a row to continue the growth and development of our community through impactful advancements in everything from education to jobs," said Mike Malone, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. "Through their generous support, we are working together with local leaders to ensure Northwest Arkansas continues to be a great place to work and raise a family."