Walmart Foundation Launches Solar School Program With $1.2 Million Grant

CHICAGO, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Walmart Foundation today announced a $1.2 million dollar donation to the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to install solar panels on 20 schools in five cities across the country. The five cities taking part in the program are Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Seattle.

"The Walmart Solar School program will help educate the next generation on the opportunities and benefits of using more renewable energy," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "This program aligns perfectly with Walmart's sustainability commitment to involve our communities and customers in our environmental and social efforts."

"NEED is honored to partner with the Walmart Foundation to bring teaching and learning opportunities to schools.  The solar installations, hands-on energy kits, and inquiry based curriculum help teachers and students understand the energy we use today and will use in the future while meeting state and local education standards," said Mary Spruill, Executive Director of NEED.  "This program is designed to educate and inspire students to learn about energy and to explore the promise and the possibilities in greater use of renewable energy." 

NEED will work with the school districts in each city to identify the participating schools. The 20 solar installations are expected to annually:

• generate approximately 150,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity,
• save the schools more than $15,000 in energy costs and
• prevent more than 100 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

In addition to aligning with Walmart's renewable energy goal and commitment to education and teachers, this grant will help create and sustain green jobs. All of the panels used in the Solar Schools program are manufactured in the United States. According to NEED, this program will help support green jobs, including engineering, design and installer technician jobs.

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, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Walmart Foundation

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