Walmart continues to accumulate awards

The National Governors Association named Walmart the recipient of its annual Public-Private Partnership Award at the closing of its 2011 Winter Meeting. The award is now in its fifth year and honors companies that have partnered with a governor's office to implement a program or project that positively affects the state's citizens. Walmart was nominated by Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe for its leadership in the No Kid Hungry Campaign, which brings together leaders with the knowledge, experience and resources to improve access to hunger relief programs, strengthen community infrastructure for food delivery and expand families' knowledge about available healthy food resources throughout Arkansas.

Walmart contributed $150,000 to fund first-year program priorities, and as part of a diverse group of stakeholders, helped to identify ways the organizations involved could interface with each other to best utilize their resources to end childhood hunger.

Nationally, Walmart has already donated $2 billion in cash and in-kind commitments, and the five-year initiative includes providing more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Walmart stores, distribution center and Sam's Club locations.

"Walmart's business and charitable giving are united in their commitment to eradicate hunger here in Arkansas and across the entire nation," said Gerard Derhman, senior director for public affairs and government relations. "Walmart is proud to use its size and scale to help put food on the table for the children of Arkansas and the millions of other Americans who suffer from food insecurity in the U.S."