Posted on November 19, 2011

Walmart Launches $1.5 Million Giving Campaign on Facebook

Walmart has announced the launch of a holiday-themed giving competition on the social networking site Facebook.

Through the company's "12 Days of Giving" page, Facebook users can nominate an organization to receive a portion of the $1.5 million in grants the giant retailer plans to hand out to U.S. nonprofits this holiday season. Preference will be given to organizations working to meet basic human needs, including food, shelter, and clothing. A panel of Walmart Foundation staff will review the submissions, and the winners will be announced on Facebook from December 12 to December 23.

During the holiday season, Walmart and its foundation will award more than $19 million in support of communities across the country, including $4 million to Feeding America to purchase twenty refrigerator food trucks and fifteen mobile pantries; $1 million to the Salvation Army for its hunger relief program; and $760,000 to Catholic Charities to provide food assistance programs in rural areas nationwide. In addition, Walmart's network of stores and clubs will distribute more than $11.9 million in grants to organizations working at the state and local level.

"Giving back has always been part of Walmart's tradition — not just during the holidays but year-round — and much of this is done through partnerships with local nonprofits," said Walmart Foundation senior director Julie Gehrki. "We want every dollar to be as impactful as possible and think that local, individual submissions will help us uncover the greatest needs."