Walmart Gives $150,000 to 10 Nonprofits Helping Communities Recover from Disaster on the Eighth Day of "12 Days of Giving" Holiday Campaign

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BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eighth day of its "12 Days of Giving" holiday campaign, Walmart is awarding $150,000 to 10 nonprofits that are helping individuals and families get back on their feet after natural disasters. One of the winning organizations, Island Harvest, is a food bank serving Long Island, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy. Following the storm, the organization immediately came to the rescue by visiting hard hit neighborhoods and delivering food and supplies.

Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Organizations receiving grants today are featured on Walmart's Live Better tab on Facebook. The organizations serve communities in: Arkansas, California, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota and Virginia.

"While natural disasters capture headlines and national attention short-term, the work of recovery and rebuilding is long-term," said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. "With these grants, we want to help brighten the holidays for those communities who are still working to rebuild."

Walmart's November call for submissions resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each nonprofit's impact in its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and then a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.

The organizations being spotlighted today for "Helping Communities Rebuild" include:

About Philanthropy at Walmart 
Walmart 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 Nutrition, Sustainability, Workforce 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. To date, Walmart has donated more than 1 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.

SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.