The Countdown Is On: Facebook Gets Six U.S. Cities Closer to $1.5 Million from Walmart for Hunger Relief

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The end of Walmart's latest Facebook campaign for hunger relief is nearing and the company is encouraging last-minute "likes" that will help determine which of 100 U.S. cities will receive $1.5 million in grants. The "Fighting Hunger Together" Facebook campaign will end at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 and is part of the company's $2 billion commitment to help fight hunger through 2015.  

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At the end of the campaign, the community with the most "likes" will receive $1 million in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation.  The five communities with the next highest votes will each receive $100,000 in grants. Since Nov. 15, nearly 150,000 votes have been cast. Currently, Fresno, Calif., is leading the way with the most "likes," but Grand Rapids, Mich., and Salt Lake City, Utah, are not far behind.  

"We know that there are people in this country who go hungry every day, so we are doing our part to support some of the neediest communities," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation.  "We launched our Facebook campaign to help spread awareness of this serious issue and encourage everyone to do something to help."

Participants can visit www.facebook.com/walmart or www.walmart.com/fightinghunger and "like" one of the 100 hungriest communities in the United States. These communities were chosen based on a study from the Food Research and Action Center that identifies communities with the highest rates of food hardship in the U.S. during 2010.  

In addition to the Facebook campaign, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation hosted a nationwide food drive and issued grants to nonprofits committed to fighting hunger this holiday season. For more information visit www.walmart.com/fightinghunger.  

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. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Walmart