Walmart Foundation Awards Over $260K to Northern IL Charities

Rockford– The Walmart Foundation has donated $260,354.47 to four Northern Illinois non-profits, helping to provide much needed financial support to the region.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank, which provides nutritious meals to the hungry, received a $120,354.47 grant; the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, a philanthropic organization, received a $70,000 grant; Remedies Renewing Lives provides assistance to victims of domestic violence and received a $45,000 grant; and the Belvidere Boone County Food Pantry, which offers food products, personal care products and clothing items to those in need, received a $25,000 grant.

“Many of these organizations rely on companies like Walmart to bridge the gap between the needs of those who come through their doors and the funds they have available,” said Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. “That’s why I’m so proud to be here to support Walmart in their donation of over one quarter of a million dollars.”

“We at the Walmart Foundation are proud to partner with these four organizations to help Northern Illinois residents live better,” said Dan Ketcham, Walmart Market Manager for the Rockford area. “We understand that supporting these organizations is essential to building stronger communities and making a real impact in the region.”

The grant to the Northern Illinois Food Bank was made possible by Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change initiative, while the grants to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Remedies Renewing Lives, and the Belvidere Boone County Food Pantry were funded by the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program.

The grant to the Northern Illinois Food Bank will support their programs that provide nutritious food to 71,000 people each week. This donation will provide close to $1 million worth of food, because the Northern Illinois Food Bank can turn every $1 donated into $8 of food. “We’re so grateful for the outpouring of support we received through Walmart’s Spark Hunger Fight Change campaign,” said Julie Yurko, Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO. “The Walmart Foundation continues to be a tremendous partner in helping us provide nutritious food to our hungry neighbors, and the impact of this donation is being felt throughout our 13-county service area.”

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois has partnered with the Rockford Public Library to use their grant to install a new, state-of-the-art computer business training classroom. Funds will be used to purchase twenty laptop stations as well as chairs, study tables, and other materials that will allow library and Rock Valley College staff to present free business and computer software classes. “We are very appreciative of this generous grant from the Walmart Foundation and the Illinois State Giving Council,” said Lynn Stainbrook, Executive Director of the Rockford Public Library. “These funds will greatly enhance our ability to provide services such as language, citizenship, educational skills and job training classes for young adults and adults in our community.”

Remedies Renewing Lives will use their grant to purchase a walk-in freezer and cooler for the kitchen in their new domestic violence shelter, allowing them to store a variety of fresh food items, so their residents can eat nutritious, well-balanced meals. “The generous grant provided by the Walmart State Giving Program will allow Remedies to improve the quality of life for the individuals living in our domestic violence shelter,” said Gary Halbach, CEO of Remedies Renewing Lives. “These funds will be used to purchase and install a walk-in freezer and cooler in our new shelter, and also help us hire a staff member to teach residents how to plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals. It is through coordination and collaboration with others that we are able to accomplish the most, and when that happens we are able to change and save lives.”

The Belvidere Boone County Food Pantry will use the funds to purchase a new forklift, allowing them to operate in a more efficient and safe manner when helping provide clothes, food, and other goods to those in need. “Feeding hundreds of families each month is no easy task,” says Linda Clark, Executive Director of the Belvidere Boone County Food Pantry. “The new forklift we were able to purchase because of the generosity of the Walmart Foundation will replace one that was in constant disrepair. We appreciate the continued support of this Foundation.”

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

About Philanthropy at WalmartWalmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, career opportunity and women’s economic empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.