Walmart giving surpasses $1 billion

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and its foundation gave more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions throughout the last fiscal year, the company announced Monday.

It’s the most money and in-kind donations given by Walmart or any U.S. retailer in a fiscal year ever , according to the company. The growth in global giving was largely due to increased in-kind donations in the U.S. to local food banks and families impacted by disasters.

“At Walmart we believe in taking care of our neighbors and our communities,” said Leslie Dach, EVP of corporate affairs for Walmart. “We serve people who fight hard for their families, and we are going to fight for them. We have a responsibility to do what we can to give them better options and better lives. One way we can do that is through our giving, and we’ve tried to step up in a big way."

Dach contends Walmart is using its size and the strength of its business to address the issues that enable the company to have the most impact in communities around the world, building programs in areas such as hunger relief, job training and support of local schools.

For example, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s total global contributions of $1 billion in the last fiscal year included:

• U.S. giving of $1 billion in cash and in-kind gifts, up from $873 million last year

• More than 351 million meals to local food banks through Feeding America

• 1 million bottles of water to residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy

• $2 million in grants to Share Our Strength to provide 122,000 families the skills and resources needed to prepare healthy, affordable meals

• $5 million given by stores and clubs toward first responders, including nearly $3 million toward local law enforcement

• $106 million in cash and in-kind gifts given by Sam’s Club and the Sam’s Club Giving Program

• 3,600 small-business owners helped to get the training they need to succeed

• Grants provided to nonprofit partners that enabled 265 small-business loans

• International giving of $82.2 million in cash and in-kind gifts

• More than 23,000 tons of food donated to hunger relief organizations in Mexico, helping more than 4,000 children battle malnutrition

• $3 million raised and donated by Walmart Canada to support 1,251 Breakfast Clubs of Canada programs

In addition to the more than $1 billion from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, Walmart and Sam’s Club customers and associates around the world raised $156 million for local organizations such as the Salvation Army and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. During the 2012 holiday season alone, our associates and customers in the U.S. raised nearly $45 million during the Red Kettle campaign to benefit local chapters of the Salvation Army, accounting for more than 30% of the organization’s Red Kettle fundraising. Our associates and customers also made a difference for nearly 17 million kids across the nation by raising more than $51 million for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals last fiscal year.