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Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Increase Commitment to California Wildfire Relief and Announce Funding for Homeless Services

WMT | November 29, 2018

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Increase Commitment to California Wildfire Relief and Announce Funding for Homeless Services

Walmart and Walmart Foundation commit a total $1 million in product and cash donations to support wildfire relief efforts, shelter services for evacuees and another $1 million to help address needs of area chronically homeless individuals

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation today increased to $1 million their commitment to support California wildfire relief efforts, including shelter services for evacuees, and announced an additional $1 million from the Walmart Foundation to help address the increased needs of the local homeless population affected by the Camp Fire. This brings Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s total commitment to more than $2 million for local organizations responding to the impacts of the most recent California wildfires and the growing homeless population in the community.

The $1 million contribution million to help address the increased needs of the local homeless population will go to the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) which will support organizations like the Jesus Center, Torres Community Shelter, Safe Space Winter Shelter, Chico-based community organizations that are addressing the needs of Camp Fire evacuees and increasing support services for chronically homeless individuals in the community.

“In the wake of the Camp Fire, local service providers working with people experiencing homelessness are deeply concerned about the displaced individuals and families who may have been on the verge of homelessness before the fire. Now, in the aftermath, the needs are surely to increase for shelter, supportive services, transitional housing, and permanent affordable housing. The generous $1 million gift from the Walmart Foundation allows organizations like the Jesus Center, the Torres Community Shelter, and the Safe Space Winter Shelter to establish a year-round collaborative, low-barrier shelter for the unmet needs facing our most vulnerable, including the newly homeless and those who had no options of shelter before or after the fires.”

- Laura Cootsona, Executive Director, Jesus Center, Joy Amaro, Executive Director, Torres Community Shelter, and Angela McLaughlin, Board President, Safe Space Winter Shelter

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation previously fulfilled a commitment to provide support through cash and product donations of $600,000 to the American Red Cross and other organizations in response to the severe wildfires that impacted both Northern and Southern California. Today’s announcement commits an additional $400,000 in cash and product donations for California wildfire response and relief bringing the total commitment to $1 million.

“Walmart is always there in a crisis and the California wildfires are no exception,” said Brad Kieserman, vice president of disaster operations and logistics for the American Red Cross. “We have been working with Walmart every step of the way during these tragic wildfires and we are thankful for their continued support for needed relief and services for evacuees.”

“Walmart has been serving the Chico community for the past 25 years and we are committed to continuing to support those in our community who lost everything through the tragic Camp Fire,” said Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Walmart. “We have been working closely with the city, county, American Red Cross and community organizations such as the North Valley Community Foundation to address the immediate needs of evacuees and increase capacity for local organizations to provide longer term services to affected individuals during the recovery phase. We commend their tireless efforts during this tragedy and will continue to support their work.”

Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, and helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products. In addition to the $2 million total donation for wildfire relief in California, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $60 million since 2005 in cash and in-kind donations in response to disaster events.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 270 million customers and members visit our more than 11,700 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2018 revenue of $500.3 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back.

To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit http://giving.walmart.com/foundation.