Submitted by Thurston County Food Bank
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 13, 2012 – On the fourth day of its “12 Days of Giving” holiday campaign, Walmart is awarding $100,000 to 10 nonprofits, who were nominated with compelling stories of personal hardship that help to put a face on hunger in our communities. One of the winning organizations, Cover 3 Foundation, was founded in 2009 by Greg Scott who experienced hunger firsthand as a child. Scott started the foundation in his hometown to make a difference in children’s lives and it now provides free meals and snacks to thousands of children every day.
Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Organizations receiving grants today are featured on Walmart’s Live Better tab on Facebook. The organizations serve communities in: Virginia, District of Columbia, South Carolina, Texas, Wyoming, Hawaii, West Virginia, Illinois, Washington and New York.
“We received compelling stories of individuals going out of their way to volunteer time and resources, often as a way to give back to an organization that helped them during a time of need,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Through our grants we want to support the organizations around the country that have had a profound effect on their neighbors in need.”
Walmart’s November call for submissions resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each nonprofit’s impact in its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and then a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.
The organizations being spotlighted today in the category of “Recognizing the Face of Hunger” include:
| Nonprofit Name | City | State | Grant Amount |
| Cover 3 Foundation | Franklin | VA | $10,000 |
| Food & Friends | Washington | DC | $10,000 |
| Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach | SC | $10,000 |
| Isaiah 58 | Big Spring | TX | $10,000 |
| Laramie Soup Kitchen | Laramie | WY | $10,000 |
| Mokuaikaua Food Pantry | Kailua Kona | HI | $10,000 |
| Fountain of Life Outreach Center | Fairmont | WV | $10,000 |
| The Salvation Army of Rockford | Rockford | IL | $10,000 |
| Thurston County Food Bank | Olympia | WA | $10,000 |
| Joshua’s Eternal Journey | Bethpage | NY | $10,000 |
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief and Nutrition, Sustainability, Workforce Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. To date, Walmart has donated more than 1 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
