Michael Flynn
Director of Communications
Meals On Wheels Association of America
703.548.5558
michael@mowaa.org

For Immediate Release

Meals On Wheels Association of America To Benefit from Walmart Plan to Fight Hunger in America

ALEXANDRIA, VA (May 12, 2010) -The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is pleased to announce that its partner, the Walmart Foundation, will commit part of a major funding campaign towards helping to end senior hunger in America. The Walmart Foundation today announced that over the next five years it will donate cash and in-kind gifts worth two billion dollars to fight hunger. Of that amount, two hundred and fifty million dollars in grants will go to organizations that are on the front lines of this national epidemic.

“We are thrilled that the Walmart Foundation has pledged to fund our efforts to make sure no senior goes hungry in America,” said MOWAA President and CEO Enid Borden, who attended the announcement today at the U.S. Capitol. “Though we don’t know yet how much money Walmart will dedicate towards helping seniors, we know the Foundation is committed to making sure our homebound elderly have the nutritious meals and human contact they need to survive.”

"Increasingly, we see opportunities to use our scale and reach to solve challenges in our communities. This is one of those times," said Eduardo Castro-Wright, Walmart's vice chairman. "By working together, we believe we can reach a day where no individual in this country has to go to bed hungry or worry if there will be food to put on the table tomorrow."

Castro-Wright announced the company's plans, joined by USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon; Senate Hunger Caucus Co-Chairwoman Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; House Hunger Caucus Co-Chairmen Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; and Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark.

Walmart will help each of its 1.4 million U.S. associates and the 140 million customers who shop its stores every week find opportunities to support food banks, senior meal delivery programs and other hunger relief organizations in their communities. More details on how customers can get involved will be announced this summer.

News outlets are welcome to use the following images for coverage of this story:

Right click the images to save them to your hard drive. These images are also links that will take you to higher-resolution versions. Problems viewing the photos or want to choose from others? Go to www.mowaa.org/press.

Video b-roll of Meals On Wheels deliveries and food preparation are also available for download here.

About Meals On Wheels Association of America:
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s mission is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.

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. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

so no senior goes hungry®