Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
11.18.2008 - 12:30pm ET
News from:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Foundation Gives $1.6 Million to Support 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
Grant to Support Idaho's efforts to "Green the Games"
(CSRwire) BOISE,ID. - November 18, 2008 - The Wal-Mart Foundation today
announced a $1.1 million grant to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter
Games in Idaho. The grant will be used to help launch a "Greening the
Games" initiative to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the upcoming
games.
Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 100
countries will travel to Idaho to compete in the 2009 Special Olympics
World Winter Games February 7-13. Earlier this year, the Wal-Mart
Foundation awarded an additional $500,000 grant to the 2009 Special
Olympics World Winter Games, for a total contribution of $1.6 million in
support of the event.
"As a valued employer of people with disabilities and a company that
recognizes its responsibilities to the communities it serves, Wal-Mart is
showing great corporate citizenship and civic virtue by contributing so
generously to so worthy a cause," said Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter.
"The Wal-Mart Foundation's assistance will help ensure the 2009 Special
Olympics World Winter Games will be a legacy of accomplishment and success
for Idaho and for the individual athletes and families involved."
Through the "Greening the Games" initiative, the Wal-Mart Foundation's
grant will help bring 'green' buses into the World Winter Games fleet to
provide transportation for athletes, coaches and supporters. The green
buses will operate on Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which is an
environment-friendly alternative to bio-diesel fuel or natural gas. The
grant will also support a recycling program at the games, aimed at
recycling 50% of the materials used, and help source local food for the
athletes in an effort to reduce transportation emissions.
"Wal-Mart is proud to support the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
as well as Idaho's efforts to host an eco-friendly event," said Margaret
McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "Through their active
participation and support, our associates at Walmart stores and Sam's
Clubs across the country have demonstrated that Special Olympics is an
organization that is important to our company."
Since 2007, the Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded more than $3.7 million to
support Special Olympics programs in communities across the country.
Wal-Mart is recognized as one of the leading employers of people with
disabilities in the nation. In 2007, Wal-Mart was recognized for the
fourth year in a row as one of the "Top 50 Employers" for providing a
positive working environment for people with disabilities according to a
poll sponsored by CAREERS and the disABLED magazine. Additionally, in
2008, Wal-Mart was recognized by the National Governor's Committee on
People with Disabilities, as an Outstanding Employer for People with
Disabilities.
"We are thrilled to have Wal-Mart's support in taking steps to make our
Games as 'green' as possible," said Chip Fisher, CEO and Chairman of the
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. "These Games are an opportunity
for us to set an example of how future events like this can and should
make the environment a priority to some degree in the planning process."
With support from the Wal-Mart Foundation, the World Winter Games
developed a website for the "Greening the Games" initiative (www.greeningthegames.org). The
website provides information and tools to help visitors learn how to
reduce their impact on the environment. The website features a carbon
calculator, a carbon offset program, a blog on green initiatives and a
list of eco-friendly ideas that can be applied to everyday life. The
Wal-Mart Foundation will also help produce "How-to-Go-Green" kits that
will be distributed to athletes, families and visitors at the games. The
kits will provide eco-friendly ideas that they can take home and implement
in their own communities.
About the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games:
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Idaho, USA,
7-13 February 2009 and up to 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries
are expected to compete. Surpassing the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter
Games in athlete numbers and participating nations, the World Winter Games
will be the largest multi-day winter sporting event ever held in
Idaho.Competition will take place in seven winter sports – Alpine
Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowboarding,
Snowshoeing and Speed Skating. Competition and other activities will take
place in communities and venues throughout Idaho including but not limited
to Boise, Sun Valley and McCall. For more information, visit www.2009WorldGames.org.
About the Wal-Mart Foundation
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to
support the charitable causes that are important to customers and
associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs
and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on
enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability
and health. In 2007, Walmart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave
$296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit
www.walmartfoundation.org.
For more information please contact:
Amy Wyatt-Moore
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
800-331-0085
www.Wal-mart.com
Justine Sgalio
Special Olympics World Winter Games
208-377-7161
News Categories:
Philanthropy/Corporate Contributions and Environment
More Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. news on CSRwire,
click here.
|
