Walmart Foundation donates $2.6M to YouthBuild USA

BOSTON The Walmart Foundation announced a $2.6 million donation to YouthBuild USA to support education and job training for low-income youth while giving participants the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED.

The grant will help train 2,000 young people in green building skills and result in the construction of 170 sustainable housing units in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

"We are looking for ways to provide opportunities for workers to develop skills to gain employment - particularly in the tough economy," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "Supporting the next generation of workers with expertise in green building practices is a natural fit for Walmart because of our focus on environmental sustainability."