Walmart Donates $33,500 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina
Prevent Blindness North Carolina received $33,500 in contributions from the Walmart Foundation to assist with its Star Pupils Program. The funds, which were given through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program and Local Giving Program, will help PBNC provide early vision screening to young children so that they can start school ready to learn and succeed throughout their school years.
A $25,000 contribution to Prevent Blindness North Carolina was made possible through the Walmart Foundation's North Carolina State Giving Program. Walmart awards grants that will have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S to organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. Jennifer Talbot, President & CEO of Prevent Blindness North Carolina accepted the $25,000 check accompanied by Ronnie Willard, Walmart Market Health and Wellness Director and Terry Harris, Walmart Vision Center Manager, during a ceremony held at the The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in August.
“I am so pleased that Prevent Blindness North Carolina was chosen as one of the organizations to receive a contribution from the Walmart State Giving Program to strengthen and expand our Star Pupils Program, said Talbot. PBNC will use this grant toprovide vision screening training & certified screening for North Carolina preschool and school-aged students and provide access to donated, comprehensive eye exams and glasses for referred children who cannot afford professional eyecare. During the ceremony, Brooke Mueller, Walmart’s Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations, discussed Walmart's ongoing commitment to support programs that help children in need.
Prevent Blindness North Carolina received an additional $8,500 in awards through the Walmart Local Giving Program’s most recent giving cycle ending January 31, 2013. Thirteen individual Walmart stores provided support for Star Pupils services in communities within their specific service area to includeDurham, Fuquay-Varina, Gastonia, Henderson, Hendersonville, Hickory, Lenoir, Mount Olive, New Bern, Raleigh, Washington, and Wilmington. Walmart believes in operating globally and giving back locally – creating impact in the neighborhoods where Walmart associates live and work. Through the Local Giving Program, Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and Logistics facilities support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About Prevent Blindness North Carolina
Prevent Blindness North Carolina was organized in 1967 as an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, the country’s second-oldest national voluntary health organization. Prevent Blindness North Carolina (PBNC) is the state’s leading volunteer-driven nonprofit public health organization dedicated to fighting blindness, saving sight, and ensuring healthy vision for North Carolinians for their lifetime. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, PBNC conducts public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening training, community and patient service programs, research, and outreach. PBNC serves all 100 NC counties providing direct services to over 550,000 North Carolinians annually. For more information or to make a contribution, call 800-543-7839. Or, visit us on the web at nc.preventblindness.org or facebook.com/PreventBlindnessNC.