Walmart Foundation Donates $3.4 Million to Help Americans Get Back To Work

BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walmart Foundation today announced a total of $3.4 million in grants to nonprofits focused on helping Americans get back to work. Specifically supporting programs that take regional approaches to developing and deploying a skilled workforce, this funding from the Walmart Foundation will benefit seven nonprofits across the U.S.

The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (Cali-Baja region), Workplace, Inc. (Connecticut-New York region), the Mid-America Regional Council (Kansas and Missouri Kansas City region), the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), West Central Job Partnership, Inc. (Ohio-Pennsylvania region), the Montgomery Institute (Eastern Mississippi region), and the West Michigan Strategic Alliance (Western Michigan region) will each receive between $400,000 and $550,000 from the Walmart Foundation to assist individuals seeking to gain the skills necessary to re-enter today's workforce.

"Now more than ever, we are looking for ways to provide opportunities for those who are out of work and facing tough times," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "These grants will support people across the country to gain the necessary life and job skills to obtain long term employment."

"Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that economies are not national, state, or local phenomena, but rather regional in nature.  It has also become clear that the success of any particular region is dependent on its capacity to develop, recruit and retain a workforce with sufficient skill and flexibility to stay ahead of the competition," said Ray Uhalde, vice president, Jobs for the Future.

As the U.S. job market continues to present challenges for many Americans, the Walmart Foundation's commitment to funding workforce development programs is stronger than ever. Funding to the seven nonprofits will expand and deepen existing collaborations among workforce boards, community colleges, faith-based organizations, chambers of commerce, regional transportation authorities, organizations focused on adult basic education and other regional partners in ways that directly promote the economic growth for the region.

Year-round, grants from the Walmart Foundation in workforce development support those who need help finding long-term, family-sustaining employment through job skill training, counseling services, and initiatives designed to increase access to programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit. For additional information, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, including donating 127 million pounds of nutritious food to U.S. food banks. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Walmart Foundation