Walmart Foundation Announces $1M in Grants to Florida Nonprofits, Kicks Off Statewide Giving Tour

More than 20 Florida nonprofits to receive grants for hunger relief and job training efforts

The Walmart Foundation today kicked off a Florida statewide giving tour that will award more than $1 million in grants to 21 nonprofits across the state. The grants will help fund hunger relief and career skills or job training efforts and be given to these organizations through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program.

"Through these grants, more than 20 deserving nonprofit organizations will be able to continue funding vital local programs across the state,” said Senate President Andy Gardiner. “Thanks to Walmart and the Walmart Foundation for recognizing the impact these programs have on so many lives. We appreciate their continued investment in communities throughout Florida."

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. Over the last fiscal year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $82 million in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations throughout Florida.

“Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are uniquely positioned to make a significant, positive impact in the communities we serve across the state,” said Jim Lewis, Walmart regional general manager for North Florida. “The organizations being recognized by Walmart this cycle work tirelessly to provide relief, and we are honored to be supporting their efforts to help residents most in need.”

In 2014, Walmart delivered a year early on a 2010 commitment to contribute $2 billion to fight hunger. As part of that commitment, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated 1.1 billion meals to those in need, and helped Feeding America grow its capacity to rescue and distribute more perishable food across the U.S. in a sustainable, cost-effective way. In Florida, Walmart donated more than 43 million pounds of food to local food banks — nearly 36 million meals in the last fiscal year.

Today, Walmart representatives alongside state and local officials kicked off the statewide giving tour by awarding $225,000 to nonprofits in the Central Florida area. Nonprofit recipients included:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake & Sumter Counties, Inc., Leesburg: BGCLSC received a $45,000 grant for its Healthy Snacks and Meals for Healthy Kids program.
• Catholic Charities of Central Florida Inc., Orlando: Catholic Charities received a $75,000 grant for the Agape Food Bank’s SmilePak program.
• Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Orlando: The Coalition received a $50,000 grant for its Meal Service Program.
• Promise Inc., West Melbourne: Promise received a $25,000 grant for its Hydroponic Garden Vocational Training & Employment Program.
• The Society of Saint Andrew Inc., Orlando: The Society received a $30,000 grant for its Florida Gleaning Network program.

Over the coming weeks, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will recognize the other recipients with events in Tampa, South Florida, the Panhandle and more.

To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum funding criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at foundation.walmart.com.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit www.foundation.walmart.com.

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WalmartAmanda Henneberg, 800-331-0085