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Walmart Foundation Awards $90,000 to DuPage County Charities
Grants to DuPagePads and Loaves & Fishes help to fight hunger, homelessness
From left to right: LaVerne Matthews and Brian Bolliger of Loaves & Fishes; Greg Szarzynski, Walmart Store Manager; Janelle Barcelona and Sarah Swiston of DuPagePads; and Michelle Caraballo, with Walmart
CHICAGO – August 31, 2015 – The Walmart Foundation has donated $90,000 to two DuPage County charities, helping them feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.
DuPagePads, which helps provide interim and permanent housing for those without a home, has received a $40,000 grant, while Loaves & Fishes, which works to end hunger in the community, received a $50,000 grant.
“We at the Walmart Foundation are proud to partner with DuPagePads and Loaves & Fishes to help end hunger and homelessness in DuPage County,” said Michelle Caraballo, a Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations with Walmart. “By supporting these organizations, we’re able to take steps toward helping members of our community live better.”
The grants, funded by the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program, will help DuPagePads provide meals and support for the Interim (Overnight) Housing Program and Client Service Center.
“We are grateful for this year’s partnership with the Walmart State Giving Foundation,” said Carol Simler, President & CEO of DuPagePads. “As a result, families and individuals who are homeless will not only have access to shelter and meals, but also will receive crucial support services that will transform their lives.”
As a result of the grant, Loaves & Fishes plans to empower more client families to self-sufficiency through its Client Engagement Model, which provides necessary resources, such as job search support, computer classes, grocery assistance, public benefit assistance, mental health counseling and Veterans’ benefit assistance. This integrated approach promotes long-term results for families struggling to make ends meet by increasing economic stability while addressing underlying issues that eventually manifest into food insecurity.
“Finding solutions for families can be a daunting task,” said Megan Selck, President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes. “The grant from the Walmart Foundation has made it possible for us to expand our efforts by training more volunteer leaders who act as the ‘front-line’ for the Client Engagement Model. This, in turn, will help us create more care plans for our client families, and we anticipate that more clients families will improve their household conditions and be closer to becoming self-sufficient.”
This donation has a special significance for Walmart Associate Judith Rodeo, who got help from Loaves & Fishes when her housed was foreclosed on in 2009.
“I have two sons and when we needed help with medical insurance and finding food, Loaves & Fishes was there for us,” Judith said. “I’m so proud to be working for a company that recognizes the importance of organizations like this. They were a real blessing for me and my family and with this donation from the Walmart Foundation, they can keep blessing others.”
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.
To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.
Check Presentation with Walmart Employees. Front row – From left to right: Greg Szarzynski, Walmart Store Manager; Janelle Barcelona and Sarah Swiston of DuPagePads; and Michelle Caraballo, with Walmart.
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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 healthy eating, sustainability, career 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. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
