BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Walmart Foundation announced today a donation of $350,000 in disaster relief for people impacted by recent droughts in Guatemala, flooding in southern India and natural disasters in Southeast Asia.
"At Walmart, we are dedicated to providing support for communities around the world, especially when they need us the most," said Margaret McKenna, president, Walmart Foundation. "Given the scale and devastating impact of these occurrences, we want to do our part to help in these tough times."
Heavy rains and flooding in southern India have impacted more than 2 million people, resulting in approximately 300 deaths. The Walmart Foundation's $125,000 donation to CARE will assist in implementing immediate relief activities for approximately 25,000 flood survivors in the areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE, said, "CARE is grateful to Walmart for its generous commitment to helping thousands of families impacted by the flash floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. With Walmart's support, CARE will provide both immediate and long-term relief to the most vulnerable groups affected, such as single mothers, children, disabled people, the elderly and those from socially excluded castes."
In Guatemala, a $100,000 donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will go toward purchasing and distributing therapeutic foods to fight acute malnutrition in the impacted areas. The donation will provide 95 tons of Vitacereal(TM), which provides essential micronutrients that are lacking in rural indigenous diets but play an important role in growth and protection against disease. The funds will support 31,000 beneficiaries to reduce chronic malnutrition in the most affected areas of the country
"The WFP thanks Walmart for this contribution to the Vitacereal program in Guatemala, which is in critical need of funding and supplies," said Willem Van Milink, WFP representative in Guatemala. "With this contribution, Walmart is ensuring nutritional assistance specifically for pregnant women as well as young children. This will help with their development as well as break the intergenerational cycle of hunger and poverty."
The Walmart Foundation will also donate $125,000 to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund to help aid in their response to recent disasters in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Samoa and American Samoa. The funds will go toward meeting the immediate needs of these vulnerable populations by funding the distribution of medical provisions, water, temporary shelters, and sanitation services, as well as help emergency responders reconnect families, restore livelihoods, and help the communities build their resilience for future natural disasters.
"The American Red Cross provides help and hope to people in need, whether they are a neighbor dealing with a home fire or someone halfway across the globe facing the devastation of an earthquake or tsunami," said Jeff Towers, Chief Development Officer of the American Red Cross. "The generosity and compassion of donors such as the Walmart Foundation is vital to the ability of the Red Cross to fulfill our humanitarian mission."
Walmart has long been recognized as a corporate leader around the globe in the area of disaster relief. In 2008 alone, the Walmart Foundation donated $300,000 to World Vision to assist with flood relief efforts in Brazil, $1 million to the Red Cross Society of China for areas impacted by snowstorms in southern China, and $3 million in disaster relief and reconstruction for the earthquakes in the Sichuan Province, China.
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. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart - and its domestic and international foundations - gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfoundation.org/.
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