National Organization on Disability Receives Generous Grant From Sam's Club

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of the Labor Day holiday weekend, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) announced its receipt of a grant of $350,000 from national retailer Sam's Club, a division of Walmart, to support disability employment initiatives.

Sam's Club and Walmart are longstanding supporters of the National Organization on Disability, with a relationship spanning more than a decade.

"I am so appreciative of Sam's Club and Walmart for their support and am pleased to recognize them this Labor Day for contributing to the economic and social advancement of workers with disabilities," said Carol Glazer, president of NOD. "Sam's Club has twice supported our Bridges to Business program – in order to put people to work in meaningful, productive positions. And Walmart is a longtime member of NOD's CEO Council. They are outstanding examples of companies supporting programs that pave the way for people with disabilities to contribute to the national workforce."

Sam's Club's pledge of $350,000 to NOD's Bridges to Business program will enable the program to continue increasing employment of people with disabilities by helping companies launch successful disability hiring initiatives, and improving connections with providers of disability employment services. Bridges to Business seeks to identify and close the gaps limiting the employment of Americans with disabilities in the workplace.

"We see great potential for NOD to work with other employers to fulfill its mission of providing valuable and fair employment opportunities to people with disabilities," said Susan Koehler, Senior Manager, Community Involvement at Sam's Club. "We are hopeful our support will help take Bridges to Business to the next level."

This Labor Day, NOD, Sam's Club, and Walmart are proud to recognize the abilities of Americans with disabilities in the workplace, as well as their economic power in the marketplace. Early in 2012, Walmart joined top executives from more than a dozen major U.S. companies and government officials to launch a nationwide public-private sector initiative to advance employment of people with disabilities. The companies and officials plan to work together to achieve common goals, including to identify and resolve employment barriers facing people with disabilities, share experience and best practices, raise visibility around the effort and awareness of the significant benefits, and expand participation.

About NOD
The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the full participation of America's 54 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life. The organization's current focus is on increasing employment opportunities for the 79 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. Current employment programs benefit individuals with disabilities looking for employment, high school students with disabilities transitioning into the workforce, seriously wounded, ill and injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and employers seeking to become more diverse by expanding existing diversity initiatives to include people with disabilities.

Contact: Jenna Lefever, NOD
717-877-1103
[email protected]

SOURCE National Organization on Disability