2017 may have given the retail industry its fair share of bruises, but that didn’t deter retailers from giving back to those in need. While Walmart and Rite Aid focused their charitable efforts on those affected by the devastating natural disasters in the U.S. and Mexico, others, including Target and the Container Store, focused on today’s youth. Ace Hardware and Belk were among the retailers that took a localized approach, empowering individual stores and their customers to select charities that work effectively in their communities.
Read on to learn how these and other retailers gave back in 2017.
Ace Hardware Achieves 98% Philanthropy Participation Rate
Every year, Ace Hardware is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and even conducts an annual survey to gauge each store’s philanthropic efforts. In 2017, the retailer revealed that 98% of stores that participated donated money, products or services to nonprofit or charitable organizations or causes. The types of organizations the retailers and its employees helped included veterans’ organizations, youth education and advocacy programs, local business commerce organizations and more.
Belk Builds Home, Launches Localized Charitable Initiative
Over the holidays, department store retailer Belk partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a family in need. The company asked for donations from customers and each store was responsible for raising the funds for an area in the home, such as the kitchen or bedroom. Belk and its customers raised $320,000 and the family received the special news during the Belk Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017.
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Additionally, at the end of 2017, the retailer announced Belk: Project Hometown, a $15 million commitment over the next five years to organizations that support their hometowns and local communities.
Rite Aid Foundation Helps Wildfire Victims, Kids In Need
December 2017 was a giving time for the Rite Aid Foundation, which made hefty donations to the American Red Cross and KidCents. The organization helped victims, families and communities in Southern California following the devastating wildfires there with a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross. The donation was used to help shelter, feed and provide comfort to those impacted by the disaster.
Additionally, Rite Aid Foundation awarded $2.2 million to its partner charities through its KidCents Holiday Wishes program. The KidCents charities were asked to pick the wish they felt would have the most impact for those they serve. More than 440 charities participated in the KidCents program, and each received a $5,000 grant to help make a holiday wish of their choice come true. Organizations and their wishes include:
- Miracle Babies, San Diego, Calif. — The nonprofit organization, which provides education, support and financial assistance to families with critically ill newborns, created holiday care packages for 500 parents.
- The Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. — The nonprofit organization, which provides innovative residential and community-based programs to at-risk children, teens and families, is creating a new game room for the 300 kids who live at the facility.
- Northeast Youth Center, Spokane, Wash. — The youth center, which offers educational and recreational activities to children ages three to 17, is helping kids stay warm this winter by providing winter coats and boots.
Best Buy Supports Tech Career-Building For Teens
Best Buy sees the importance of enabling young people to develop the skills necessary for the jobs of the future, many of which will rely heavily on technology. Through its Community Grants program, the retailer is supporting 337 local nonprofits across the country to provide underserved teens opportunities to develop tech skills that will help them prepare for careers and post-secondary education. In September 2017, the Best Buy Foundation awarded more than $2 million to these 337 local nonprofits.
Examples of the Community Grant recipient organizations include:
- Techbridge Girls, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-focused after-school program for girls;
- I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County, which provides career-readiness internship programs; and
- IT-oLogy Foundation, a virtual reality, mobile app and gaming enrichment program.
Target Kicks In To Help More Youth Play Soccer
According to a Target release, more than nine million kids played in youth soccer leagues in 2016 alone. While the game is clearly popular, it doesn’t mean that getting on a team is easy — costs for equipment and registration fees are not always feasible for some families.
To encourage more kids to play soccer, Target made a $14 million commitment to local youth soccer through two new national initiatives: an $8 million local soccer grant program, and a $6 million partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 100 new soccer play spaces by 2020.
“Target’s commitment to soccer brings the game to more kids and families across the country, and increases involvement at all levels, from local youth leagues to professional teams,” said Rick Gomez, CMO of Target in a statement. “Our multi-dimensional approach allows us to engage with players, fans and families, no matter how they participate in the sport. These two new programs reinforce the importance the game plays at the local level. Both unlock access to youth soccer and give Target the ability to connect with our guests and team members in new ways.”
Walmart Supports Victims Of Natural Disasters
The world was not prepared for the devastating disasters that occurred in 2017. Hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires plagued parts of the world and, like many other organizations, Walmart was committed to helping those affected get back on their feet. In September and October 2017 alone, the Walmart Foundation:
- Announced $565,000 (10 million pesos) towards Mexico earthquake relief and recovery. The commitment added to the $2.2 million (40 million pesos) commitment of cash and 300 tons of product donations made by Walmart de México y Centroamérica to assist those in need;
- Made a $5 million commitment for Hurricane Maria Relief, which supported organizations helping with local relief efforts in Puerto Rico. This built on the $35 million commitments the Foundation made to support Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma relief;
- Supported response and relief efforts in California by committing up to $250,000 in cash and product for those affected by the wildfires. This included funding for nonprofit grants supporting the American Red Cross and Salvation Army for shelter and feeding efforts as well as product donations to support first responders; and
- Made a $500,000 commitment to Operation Homefront to support military families impacted by recent hurricanes.
Lowe’s Supports Affordable Housing, Local Blue Santa Program
For Giving Tuesday 2017, Lowe’s announced a $1 million commitment to affordable housing in Charlotte, N.C. to provide more stability for low-income families. The funds were received by Habitat for Humanity Charlotte and Our Towns Habitat for Humanity to build and repair homes for 20 families in the Greater Charlotte area. The retailer also provided hands-on volunteer support from Lowe’s employees.
“Lowe’s is committed to helping make our community a place of opportunity for all families and children who call Charlotte home,” said Jennifer Weber, Lowe’s Chief Human Resources Officer in a statement. “We’re proud of this expanded partnership with our local Habitat for Humanity chapters to help provide families more access to safe, affordable homes.”
Philanthropy also happened at local levels. During the holiday season, a Texas-based Lowe’s store donated more than $6,500 in toys to a local sheriff’s department’s Blue Santa program.
Container Store Raises Funds For UNICEF
During the summer of 2017, Container Store launched an effort to help raise money for UNICEF USA. By September 2017, the retailer raised $236,000 to provide educational opportunities to children all over the world and give them the tools they need to help lift themselves and their communities out of poverty. The funds had a particular impact on the Let Us Learn program, which brings innovative educational opportunities to the world’s most vulnerable children.
