Is there anything good about WalMart??

[WonderGrunion]

58. Yes they do. Does it offset the bad that they do?

That’s the real debate.

When many companies are saying they will cut back full time employees to part-time due to Obamacare, Walmart has announced they are promoting people

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/10/29/walmart-kicks-off-holiday-season-with-on-the-spot-promotion-ceremonies-at-stores-across-the-country

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 29, 2013 – Walmart announced today that it is kicking off its holiday season with a special focus on more career opportunities for associates. The company expects to promote more than 160,000 associates to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility this year, including 25,000 promotions during its fourth quarter.
Top executives are traveling to stores today to congratulate promoted associates and thank them for the tremendous work they do serving the millions of customers who shop at Walmart. Promoted associates will receive higher pay and more responsibilities, as well as continued access to affordable health benefits.
“Our success from day one is a direct result of our associates and the hard work they do in taking care of our customers. We are proud to provide our people with additional opportunities for career growth and greater economic security for their families,” said Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. president and CEO. “Like most Americans, our associates want good jobs and access to a better life. Whether you are a cashier in Charlotte, or a stocker in Dallas or an assistant manager in Los Angeles, Walmart wants to see you succeed.”
Walmart provides more employment opportunities than any other company in America. In addition to standard salary and benefits, both full- and part-time associates at Walmart are eligible for quarterly bonuses based on the performance of their stores. Associates also receive a discount card to save 10 percent on most regularly priced general merchandise, fresh fruits and vegetables at any Walmart store.

Walmart is usually the first on scene with help at major disasters.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/11/14/walmart-commits-1-million-in-response-to-typhoon-haiyan

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 14, 2013 -- Today Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and the Walmart Foundation are committing $1 million (USD) to the Red Cross and Save the Children for emergency relief efforts in response to needs created by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The donation includes funds given by the Walmart Foundation and Walmart’s international operations.
In addition to the $1 million donation, Walmart is making it easy for U.S. customers and associates to make personal contributions to relief efforts by setting up online sites for donations to the Philippines through the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/cm/walmart-pub and http://www.redcross.org/cm/samsclub-pub.
“Giving back to our communities, especially in a time of need, is part of our culture at Walmart,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart International. “A crisis only reinforces that commitment, and our thoughts are with the people affected by this disaster. We’re proud to help the Red Cross and Save the Children get vital assistance to the Philippines as quickly as possible.”
Funds donated by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will focus on addressing immediate needs. It is a top priority of both the Red Cross and Save the Children to ensure the health and safety of those affected, particularly children. Both organizations are providing relief for immediate needs such as nutritious food, medical supplies and health care. Additionally, Save the Children will set up Child Friendly Spaces to help children cope with trauma and fear in the wake of this devastating storm.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2005/05/04/25-million-to-be-given-to-tsunami-victims

The Facts:
• Associates and customers at various facilities, including Wal-Mart stores, SAM’S CLUBS, and distribution center locations in the U.S., have donated a total of $2.5 million to relief efforts for Tsunami victims in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India.
• The funds will be allocated as follows:
o $1 million will be allocated to the United Nations (UN) Foundation as part of former President Bill Clinton’s current initiative as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Reconstruction.
o $500,000 will be given to World Vision, an international organization providing shelter, education, meals and emotional counseling to children in the region.
o $200,000 will be given to the Rajaprachanukroh Foundation of Thailand, a Foundation helping to provide long and short-term disaster assistance, while providing special attention to orphans. This funding will be used specifically to assist in the building of schools that house kindergarten through secondary education.
o $200,000 will be allocated to the Prime Minister of India’s fund to support India’s relief efforts.
o $200,000 will be provided to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a group dedicated to delivering lifesaving aid in emergencies.
o $100,000 will be given to the Sri Lanka-Garment Buying Offices Association to provide funding to build more than 50 homes for displaced individuals.
o $100,000 will be given to Sarvodaya, an organization in Sri Lanka that helps take care of long-term needs of all Tsunami orphans under age 18.
o $100,000 to be provided to Mercy Corps, an organization that provides emergency relief services that assist people afflicted by conflict or disaster.
o $100,000 to be used to pursue local community efforts through our sourcing operations.
• The $2.5 million, which was raised by customers and associates at various collection points throughout the U.S., complements the Wal-Mart/SAM’S CLUB Foundation donation of $2 million given last December to the International Red Cross for Tsunami relief.
• Additionally, efforts in Wal-Mart stores in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Japan raised another $4.8 million bringing the total relief amount to more than $9 million generated through Wal-Mart support around the world.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2011/03/15/walmart-commits-5-million-in-response-to-japan-earthquake

BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 15, 2011: Today Walmart (NYSE: WMT) announced an initial commitment of $5 million (USD) in cash and in-kind donations for emergency relief efforts in response to the tragic 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that have left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless in Japan. Also, Walmart operations around the world are planning or have implemented fundraising drives among associates and customers to provide additional relief funds for the victims.
Within the first three days following the earthquake and tsunami, Walmart associates, working across Japan, quickly took action to help by setting up distribution points for relief items in our store parking lots when the stores themselves were too damaged to open. In the immediate aftermath, our stores and distribution centers provided in kind donations to the victims including water, food and sanitary items.
“With the impact of this earthquake on our own communities, customers, associates and suppliers, we wanted to reach out with assistance as soon as possible,” said Scott Price, executive vice president, president and CEO of Walmart Asia. Price added that Walmart was also mounting a full scale operation to get additional relief supplies into Japan. The supplies include 95 tons of water, acrylic blankets, tents, warm clothes, fleece, portable toilets, flashlights, batteries, and other necessary relief items.
“Our operations in Japan are actively engaged in providing assistance on the ground, and we’re continuing to monitor the situation and look for additional ways that we can help with the relief efforts,” added Toru Noda, president and CEO, Walmart Japan. He added that since the disaster struck Walmart associates were working around the clock to keep supply going to the Seiyu stores in Japan which had become a lifeline for local communities.

Walmart also donates a lot of money to American community organizations

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/10/24/walmart-foundation-provides-25-million-to-share-our-strength-to-increase-the-availability-of-nutrition-education-programs-for-families

BENTONVILLE, Ark., October 24, 2013 – Today, the Walmart Foundation announced a $2.5 million grant to Share Our Strength to help families nationwide gain valuable hands-on shopping, cooking and nutrition education so they can eat healthy on a budget. The grant will provide 107,500 Americans with access to Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program, which has a 20-year history of helping low-income families develop and maintain healthier eating habits. The initiative is part of Walmart’s and the Walmart Foundation’s $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America, and Walmart’s 2011 initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices every day.
Today, 46.5 million Americans live in poverty according to U.S. Census data. For many families who struggle to make ends meet, there is a clear gap between the desire to eat healthy and the ability to consistently prepare nutritious meals for their families. Share Our Strength’s “It’s Dinnertime” report reveals that 85 percent of low-income families believe eating healthy is important, yet only half are able to prepare nutritious meals on a regular basis. The report also indicates the primary barrier is the perceived high cost of healthy foods. These challenges are especially detrimental to children, as poor nutrition can lead to behavioral, emotional and academic problems, [ii] and impair their overall development.[iii] Additionally, this November many families who participate in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will see their benefits, which help pay for food, reduced. Having less money to spend on food each month will provide added challenges to families that participate in SNAP, and programs like Cooking Matters will help ensure that those impacted by the reductions have an increased understanding of how to identify healthy food and are able to buy it on a shrinking budget.
“Many families in America haven’t been given the opportunity to learn about how to eat healthy at home. Programs like Cooking Matters give families the tools necessary to maximize their resources, shop smart on a budget and develop better eating habits,” said Julie Gehrki, senior director of the Walmart Foundation. “Today we recognize ‘National Food Day’ because we believe that healthy eating can change lives. At Walmart, we take this to heart every day by making nutritious foods accessible and affordable for families across the country; and alongside partners like Share Our Strength we can help even more people eat healthier and live better.”
Over the next year, the grant will help provide shoppers with access to Cooking Matters at the Store shopping tours at Walmart stores and other grocers. These interactive sessions with trained guides are designed to teach four main skills: buying fruits and vegetables on a budget, comparing unit prices, reading food labels and identifying whole grain foods. In addition, the grant will support six-week Cooking Matters courses that introduce cooking, food budgeting and nutrition concepts proven to increase healthy eating. Following the completion of the six-week course, Share Our Strength found that 80 percent of adults who graduate report improved food budgeting practices, while 78 percent of adult and teen graduates report an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.

http://news.walmart.com/walmart-foundation-grants-15-million-in-support-of-immigration-integration-programs-helping-hispanic-immigrants

BENTONVILLE, Ark., September 26, 2013 – Today, the Walmart Foundation announced $1.5 million in grants to help nearly 19,000 Hispanic immigrants access integration programs that will provide the knowledge, training and support needed to more easily assimilate into the American culture and become citizens of the United States. The grant will be divided between The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Hispanic Federation, working in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to improve opportunities for Latino families. Specifically, the organizations will utilize their own grassroots networks to help immigrant families access English as a Second Language (ESL), civic and citizenship classes, as well as the support and information they need to complete the naturalization process over the next year.
More than 40 million foreign-born individuals live in the United States and about half of this population is comprised of immigrants from Latin America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A Pew Hispanic Center survey revealed that the majority of Hispanic immigrants would like to become U.S. citizens but face common barriers that prevent them from completing the naturalization process. These barriers include a lack of language proficiency and the high cost associated with the naturalization process.
“Our ability to empower immigrants working to become U.S. citizens through support systems and valuable services is an important factor in the growth and prosperity of our nation,” said Lee Culpepper, vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart. “The integration programs offered by trusted organizations, like the NCLR, LULAC and the Hispanic Federation, help us work together to reduce the social and economic barriers immigrants face every day, and ultimately enable families to fully participate in the civic and economic life of our great country.”
Through a $1 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, NCLR will launch the “Bienvenidos” project to support 15,000 Hispanic adults as they work to become citizens. The project will provide ESL training and help immigrants engage with citizens and organizations in their local communities. The grant will impact adults in Albuquerque, N.M.; Chicago; Cleveland; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; New York; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; San Antonio; San Diego; and Washington.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/07/22/heller-schools-center-for-youth-communities-at-brandeis-university-receives-25-million-grant-from-the-walmart-foundation-for-2013-summer-youth-employability-initiative

WALTHAM, Mass., Monday, July 22, 2013 – Today the Brandeis Center for Youth and Communities announced it received a $2.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. The grant will directly support summer programs that employ, educate, and support young people as well as efforts to create a national dialogue on enhancing youth employability.
The grant supports competency-based summer jobs that integrate work and learning for 1,200 vulnerable youth in seven communities: Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Maricopa County, and San Diego. The Brandeis Center awarded grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 to government and nonprofit agencies in these communities to implement the program. Teenagers will work 120 hours over the summer at hundreds of worksites. Brandeis researchers provide technical assistance to grantees and monitor and evaluate the quality and impact of the programs.
In addition, the Brandeis Center will create a national dialogue on youth employability development by engaging employers from all sectors to focus on what a young person needs to know and do to enter and succeed in today’s workforce. It will also help empower students to effectively document and communicate their skills to meet employers’ needs.
Professor Susan P. Curnan, Director of the Center for Youth and Communities and study leader for many summer youth initiatives, underscores the power of a competency-based approach to youth employability development: “We describe our approach to the summer program as ‘100% work, 100% learning.’ Summers matter – over the long term, youth who participate in year-round programs or multiple summer experiences intentionally combining work, learning, and support can improve educational outcomes, are less likely to drop out, have less difficulty getting and keeping jobs, and have higher lifelong earnings than those who do not.”

And Walmart is dedicated to Veterans

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/05/27/today-walmart-launches-veterans-commitment-plans-to-hire-100000-over-the-next-five-years

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 27, 2013 – Today, Walmart launched the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty, and projects to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years.
“Hiring a veteran can be one of the best business decisions you make,” said Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. president and CEO and US Navy Veteran. “We believe Walmart is already the largest private employer of veterans in the country, and we want to hire more.”
“Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They’re quick learners and team players and are leaders with discipline, training and a passion for service,” Simon continued. “I can think of no better group to lead in revitalizing our economy than those who have served in uniform. Through their service, veterans give us a land of freedom. When they return, it must be to a land of possibility.”
In April, Walmart participated in the Joining Forces Employment Announcement at the White House, and challenged companies to hire 100,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013. To move this effort forward, Simon wrote to 50 CEOs in the U.S. to urge them to make hiring commitments of their own.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/11/11/walmart-salutes-veterans-and-military-families-with-20-000-jobs-and-a-helping-hand-for-the-holidays

Operation Homefront Receives $1.5 Million for “Home for the Holidays” Program
The holidays can be an especially challenging time for military families with a deployed spouse, parent or child. Operation Homefront will receive $1.5 million to provide 25,000 toys and more than 17,000 meals to military families nationwide. The gift also will support Operation Homefront’s “Home for the Holidays” program, which will bring home 500 active duty military to spend the holidays with their families.
“It is because of partners like Walmart that we are able to honor our commitment to provide year-round emergency financial assistance to the families of our military members and wounded warriors,” stated Jim Knotts, Operation Homefront president and CEO. “Not only are our military families dealing with the challenge of deployment and separation from loved ones, but they’re also confronted by difficult economic situations like many Americans. In fact, this year alone, we’ve seen requests for emergency financial assistance triple over historical levels. We are proud of our partnership with Walmart, and through our combined efforts we can make this time of year much more meaningful for thousands of military families.”
Largest Single Donation to Fisher House “Sponsor a Family” Program
In addition, Walmart will give $500,000 to the Fisher House “Sponsor a Family” program, the largest single donation to the program, which provides a home away from home for families with a service member in the hospital for an illness, disease or injury. The funding will provide 50,000 nights of free lodging for families so they can be close to loved ones.
“As an organization, we work very hard to fill the gaps and help our military during very difficult times, usually when a loved one is sick, or recovering from an injury. Our ability to make an impact is amplified through the support of partners, like Walmart, going above and beyond the call of duty,” stated Ken Fisher, Fisher House Foundation chairman and CEO. “The support from Walmart will enable us to cover the cost for half of our guests during the next year, a gift that is truly priceless to those we serve.”

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/16/5-million-walmart-foundation-grant-helps-goodwill-grow-jobs-program-for-veterans-their-families

September 16, 2013 ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Walmart Foundation has granted $5 million to Goodwill Industries International to expand Operation: GoodJobs, an initiative that equips military veterans and their families with the tools they need to earn employment and ensure long-term financial wellness for themselves and their families. Building upon effective practices developed via the Operation: GoodJobs pilot, Goodwill will scale the program to serve more than 4,000 veterans and military families over three years.
Operation: GoodJobs originally launched in the spring of 2012 at Goodwill agencies in Austin and Houston, Texas, and Tacoma, Wash., with a $1 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. After successfully serving more than 800 veterans and families, Goodwill and the Walmart Foundation will expand the program to include nine additional Goodwill headquarters in four states with high concentrations of veterans: California, New York, North Carolina and Texas.
“Operation: GoodJobs not only assists veterans and their families with job training and placement and skills attainment, but also plans for each participant’s continued success by designing individualized, comprehensive plans that support the needs of the entire family, including spouses and adult children, and helps ensure their economic stability in the long term,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Each participant in Operation: GoodJobs receives a complete career assessment and a development plan that includes a range of family needs, from basic needs such as child care, nutrition and shelter, to specific job training identified in the assessment process."
The program connects veterans and their families with opportunities to earn certifications, market-value credentials and degrees that will help them with their careers. In addition, Operation: GoodJobs provides soft skills training, including résumé writing skills, career testing, and translating military skills to civilian language. Goodwill works with hundreds of business partners to find the right match for both participants and businesses. Through Operation: GoodJobs, Goodwill also offers employers free placement and screening services, and post-placement support.

Finally, Walmart is a leader in corporate sustainability
http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/12/walmart-highlights-progress-on-the-sustainability-index

BENTONVILLE, Ark., September 12, 2013 – In front of an audience of associates, suppliers and nonprofit organizations at its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting, Walmart today highlighted its progress with the Sustainability Index, a measurement system used to track the environmental impact of products. The company also outlined key initiatives where it can use its size and scale to help address “hot spots” and accelerate progress in supply chain sustainability.

“We’ve reached an acceleration point where we are moving from measurement to results. We’re starting to really drive progress with the Index,” Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke said. “This is about trust and value. Using less energy, greener chemicals, fewer fertilizers and more recycled materials – all of this – is the right thing to do for the planet and it’s right for our customers and our business.”

As of today, the Index has been rolled out across 200 product categories, and to more than 1,000 suppliers. By the end of this year, we expect the Index will expand to include more than 300 product categories and as many as 5,000 suppliers.

Since the Index rolled out broadly to Walmart product categories in August 2012, it has shown a consistent trend of improved product sustainability. For example, Walmart’s general merchandise department has improved its Index product sustainability score by an average of 20 percent; grocery department by an average of 12 percent; and consumables and health and wellness by an average of 6 percent.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/04/15/walmart-announces-new-commitments-to-dramatically-increase-energy-efficiency-renewables

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – April 15, 2013 – Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke today announced the company’s next step on the path to achieving its goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. Unveiled at Walmart’s Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting, the company committed to achieving the following by Dec. 31, 2020:
1. Drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy globally every year, a 600 percent increase over 2010 levels;
2. Reduce the kWh/sq. ft. energy intensity required to power Walmart’s buildings globally by 20 percent compared to 2010 levels.
“More than ever, we know that our goal to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy is the right goal and that marrying up renewables with energy efficiency is especially powerful,” said Duke. “The math adds up pretty quickly – when we use less energy that’s less energy we have to buy, and that means less waste and more savings. These new commitments will make us a stronger business, and they’re great for our communities and the environment.”
Walmart’s six-fold increase in renewable energy projects is expected to be equal to eliminating the need for roughly two U.S. fossil fuel power plants. Based on external estimates of projected energy costs and other factors, the two new commitments are anticipated to generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/06/25/walmart-announces-10-new-solar-installations-in-maryland

(BENTONVILLE, Ark.) June 25, 2013 – Walmart and SolarCity today announced the completion of projects at eight Walmart stores and two Sam’s Clubs across the state of Maryland that will generate clean, renewable electricity. The energy produced by the new solar installations will generate approximately 4.1 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually – enough energy to power nearly 370 homes* – and are expected to supply between 5-20 percent of each store’s overall electricity use.
"In Maryland, we've set some of the most ambitious goals in the nation for advancing clean renewable energy and creating green jobs," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "We're helping businesses take advantage of solar incentives so they can save money while embracing the job-creating, planet-saving potential of our green economy. I commend the partnership between SolarCity and Walmart as a significant step forward toward a more sustainable future for generations to come."
“Building a clean energy economy creates new jobs and provides affordable, reliable clean energy choices for businesses,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “The partnership between SolarCity and Walmart shows that we’re taking the right steps.”
With over 13,400 panels, the Walmart stores in Arbutus, Berlin, California, Cockeysville, Fallston, Hagerstown, Laurel and Severn, along with Sam’s Clubs in Salisbury and Severn will provide over 3.1 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity.