Walmart Foundation Hosts Florida Day of Giving, Awards $485,000 to Florida Nonprofits

Tampa Bay News

http://www.tampabaynewswire.com/2014/10/29/walmart-foundation-hosts-florida-day-of-giving-awards-485000-to-florida-nonprofits-29335

The Walmart Foundation today announced it has awarded $485,000 in grants to 18 Florida nonprofits to help fund hunger relief, education, reef restoration and women¹s economic empowerment efforts across the state. The grants were given to these organizations through the Walmart Foundation¹s State Giving Program.

“Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are uniquely positioned to help some of the most needy residents in communities we serve across the state, and we are honored to support organizations that can help us make a significant impact,” said Elise Vasquez-Warner, Walmart Vice President and Regional General Manager for Tampa and South Florida. “These organizations work tirelessly to provide relief, and through these grants, we are hopeful residents will find just that.”

The Walmart Foundation¹s 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 $67 million in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations throughout Florida.

On Thursday, Walmart representatives hosted a Day of Giving and honored the grant recipients at events in Jacksonville and Naples. Nonprofit recipients in Florida include:

Miami
– Carrfour Supportive Housing received a $50,000 grant for its Community Food Works Employment Program.
– City Year received a $25,000 grant for its Whole School Whole Child program.

Naples Area
– Friends of Rookery Bay in Naples received a $25,000 grant for restoring reefs in the Cocohatchee Estuary.
– The Greater Marco Family YMCA in Marco Island received a $25,000 grant for its YMCA Reads! Program.
– Guadalupe Center in Immokalee received a $25,000 grant for its Tutor Corps program.
– Helps Outreach in Naples received a $25,000 grant for feeding the needy and hungry.
– Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida in Naples received a $25,000 grant for its senior center weekly congregate meal. The grant will fund six months of lunches for this program at the only senior center in Collier County.

North Florida Area
– Communities In Schools of Florida in Tallahassee received a $25,000 grant for student empowerment.
– Community Connections of Jacksonville received a $25,000 grant for feeding the homeless and at-risk families.
– Florida State College Foundation in Jacksonville received a $25,000 grant for its College Reach-Out Summer Program.
– Manna Food Bank in Pensacola received a $40,000 grant for its healthy kids and senior hunger programs.
– North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America in Jacksonville received a $25,000 grant for classroom character education.
– Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless in Jacksonville received a $40,000 grant for the center¹s meals program.
– The Way Free Clinic in Jacksonville received a $5,000 grant to help with basic medical care for residents in Clay County.

Tampa Area
– Annie W. Johnson Senior & Family Service Center, Inc. received a $25,000 grant for Annie¹s Freeze-to-Feed program.
– Church Without Walls of Inverness Florida Inc. received a $25,000 grant for its G.R.O.W. Program.
– Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay received a $25,000 grant for its nutrition program for low- to moderate-income program participants.

Treasure Coast Area
– Children¹s Home Society of Florida in Vero Beach received a $25,000 grant for its Transitional Living Program.

To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program¹s online grant application. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program¹s minimum funding criteria. Additional information about the program¹s funding guidelines and application process are available online at foundation.walmart.com.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts that draw on the strengths of Walmart in the arenas of sustainability, economic opportunity, and community. As part of our commitment to creating a more sustainable food system worldwide, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States. They recently exceeded a $2 billion goal to fight hunger one year ahead of schedule and have donated more than 1.5 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart¹s giving, visit www.foundation.walmart.com.

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