Wal-Mart Commits Additional $15 Million to Katrina Relief

[Brightmore]

Wal-Mart Commits Additional $15 Million to Katrina Relief
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
September 1, 2005

Following President Bush's announcement today that former Presidents Bush and Clinton will lead a nationwide fundraising effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott contacted President Clinton and the White House and committed $15 million from Wal-Mart to jump-start the effort.

As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart will establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need.

Wal-Mart previously donated $2 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts and has been collecting contributions at its 3,800 stores and CLUBS, and through its web sites.

Through its Associate Disaster Relief Fund, the company will also give displaced associates immediate funds for shelter, food, clothing and other necessities.

Link

[lebkuchen]

1. that will buy another 30 clapboard houses in today's economy

Remember that Sam Walton is the richest man on earth.

[Democrats_win]

3. Hey Wal-Mart, think "Carl Sagan," you can afford it.

[Eloriel]

4. Sam Walton died not long ago

Didn't he?

[Brightmore]

5. He died in the early 1990s

[still_one]

7. so what would you like to do, give the money back

I don't think the victims would appreciate that

major drug companies are donating insulin and other medicines to the area. Because they are "big business", or we don't think it is enough we should be arrogant, and spit in their face?

What does that say about us?

[Brightmore]

10. Sam Walton died in 1992

And Bill Gates is the richest person on earth.

[LifeDuringWartime]

2. they wont have emergency contraceptives though!

walmart wont stock them

[napi21]

6. Oh comeon folks. WM didn't have to do it, and they did.

Could they afford more, sure! But they didn't have to give anything. I hate WM for their business practices and their employment practices, but they did a good thing here, and just maybe they'll prompt other businesses to do the same!

[still_one]

20. absolutely right

this should have NOTHING to do with politics

Never look down on a gift that is meant to help people

I gave to the Red Cross, and I plan to give more.

[lostinacause]

8. Good to hear. nt

[Broken_Hero]

9. They plan on doing a lot more...

My wife works for their home offices in Bentonville, she works within their external/internat diversity department, she is working this saturday with a lot of other good people, to try and get associates into shelters, home's and what have yous...i do believe they are going to donate a whole lot more, my wife says about 40 plus walmart stores got screwed, and imagine 200 workers per supercenter, thats a lot of people...i don't if any of my employers in the past would do even a 1/16th of what walmart is trying to do. I'm not trying to promote that walmart is good and all that, but at least they are doing something, shit they are doing more than me, i can't afford to send anything, but my wife and i's home is open to any associate that chooses to stay in SW Missouri....

[still_one]

23. I agree. It is important NOT to put down good deeds

and by you opening your home to any associate who was affected, that is more than most people would do

[Tesibria]

59. THANK YOU!!!

Thank you - I agree w/ - and know from first hand experience that what you're saying is true - that lots of people in Wal-Mart are working their tails off right now to respond in a positive - helpful way.

thank you

[Endangered Specie]

11. Say what you will about walmart...

thats 15 times what the NBA has puckered up to.

[Omphaloskepsis]

12. I have a feeling...

that after cutting a check for the 15 million they will put out 100 million in advertisements talking about how they gave out 15 million.

But, People need the money right now. So I can't bitch too much.

[ticapnews]

13. If we are going to criticize them when they are wrong...

we should be able to recognize and commend them when they do something right. Otherwise, our criticism is meaningless. They can do more and I am sure they will. They HAVE to do absolutely nothing, so ANYTHING they give should be welcomed. There will be plenty of time later to criticize them.

[high density]

14. That's more like it

Hopefully it will keep coming.

[tinrobot]

15. Every little bit helps

I know we all like to rag on WalMart, but they're doing the right thing in this case.

[daleo]

16. Not really altrusim - this will give them first presence in these areas

Also: "Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need."

The crux of the issue is "demonstrated need". That will be tricky. It is a smart move by Wal-Mart. They get the first foot in the door in devastated areas, blocking potential competition, and giving them a monopoly (at least temporarily). They also get some excellent corporate p.r., and tons of free advertising in news reports - it is smart, but not necessarily altruistic.

[blonndee]

33. Good post. Wonder why YOU didn't get lambasted. Probably because

your post count is over 1000.

[Nostradammit]

45. And because he's daleo - Look for the boot:

It's a sure sign of a good post.

always.


:toast:

[daleo]

71. Thanks for the kind comment.

Heres to everyone's health. :toast:

[daleo]

70. That probably helps.

But hang in there and keep contributing. We were all under 1000 at one time.

[JoFerret]

63. Cheap PR

Glad to see supplies and money come from any source but lets not buy into any notion that this represents the accepable and charitable face of that benign entity Walmart.
Good for them for sending. But the benefit will also be theirs.

Now if George were to open the ranch in Crawford and set up a tent city on all that brush he has cleared....

[Igel]

69. Yes, it gives them some PR and free advertising.

But it hardly gives them a monopoly--I'm not sure what that means in this context. It's not like it's shelf space in a store.

Let's hear it for competition: Maybe K-Mart will pitch in $20 million, Costco will pitch in $15 million.

[daleo]

72. A temporary monopoly, while other stores are down from damage.

That can be quite important for Wal-Mart, given their corporate clout. Once Wal-Mart's mini-stores establish a presence, their big stores are likely to follow, and that can result in a monopoly (at any rate, severely reduced competition).

Some communities have also tried to keep big Wal-Marts out of their jurisdictions, in preference for local businesses. These circumstances are likely to lower community resolve on that point.

It certainly would be an interesting competition, if major corporations got into a donation frenzy for the sake of the p.r.

[tuvor]

17. If you're trashing Wal-Mart over this, I'll bet ...

...you're enjoying your creature comforts far away from the Gulf Coast.

They're helping to provide essentials. Before the great leader has even done a flyover. Geeeeeeeez, guys. :eyes:

Oppose Wal-Mart over the stuff that really matters, okay?

[ngGale]

18. As much as it pains me to say this ...

thank you for the people in NO.

[bluestateguy]

19. That's a little better

n/t

[brentspeak]

21. Well, they actually did something right for America. Good for them.

[blonndee]

22. Oooh, 15 million out of the $383 million they spend on BAGS every year.

Told to me PROUDLY (seriously, think Heil WalMart) by a WalMart employee this summer. He was trying to tease me about "taking" a candy bar out of the store in my purse, and I was all, "no way I'll try to steal from Wal-Mart. You guys know I'm coming before I get here."

So he's all proud, a huh huh huh, "you know, WalMart's the largest corporation in the world" (like that's something to be proud of)..."know how much we spend on BAGS every year?"

And I'm trying to maintain some semblance of decency for my mom's sake and I say semi-jokingly, "oh, probably enough to feed all the starving people in the world" and HE TOTALLY DOESN'T GET IT AND GOES ON IGNORANTLY, "383 million! We spend 383 million JUST ON BAGS!"

Something to be proud of, for sure. Motherf******s,.

[still_one]

24. how much have you given?

is your home open to any of the victims?

[blonndee]

27. Why does it matter? Am I on national TV singing my own praises? As a

matter of fact I made a call to the Red Cross this evening and gave 15% of this month's income.

WTF do you care?

[HuckleB]

40. I've given...

$500, and I've spent every non-employed hour the last two days collecting and preparing donations for the area. And my wife and I will continue this through the weekend and beyond.

This is cheap PR for Wal Mart. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[JoFerret]

64. Cheap shot

Of course Walmart should give and keep giving. It has taken it all in the first place. But hey - this is getting silly.
Walmart has done a good thing. It is still a destructive force/ evil entity.
Let's not start attacking each other and turning this into a compassion competition. there's room for all contributions from everywhere. too bad we don't have a fair and progressive tax system and no federal deficit and a government that cares about all of its people - then we might not need to dig so deep to get the job done on an individual basis - we would have contributed fairly to begin with.

[tuvor]

25. Channel that "rage" toward your president.

He's the only one who SHOULD have been doing something all along.

Where ARE you banging out this drivel from, anyway? Far from saltwater, I'll bet.

[NVMojo]

28. yeah, when's the Carlyle Group going to donate??

[blonndee]

29. Excuse me, are you talking to me?

[blonndee]

30. And if you ARE directing these comments to me,

I certainly HAVE directed my rage to * (he's not MY president). I spent almost all day today on the phone to senators' offices from Oklahoma, New Mexico, the OK governor's office, and asking all my friends and colleagues to ask the senators to demand that aid be sent NOW and to demand ACCOUNTABILITY for this massive screwup.

I think it's ridiculous for WalMart to pretend to be on the side of the victims. Sure it's commendable they're giving this $15-17 million whatever, but it's nothing to them. And I'm certainly entitled to express my opinion on the issue without being slammed. Especially when I'm the only freaking one in my entire department at my university who is actually trying to DO something about this catastrophe.

[tuvor]

31. You say, "it's commendable they're giving this $15-17 million"

So...commend them for it.

[blonndee]

32. I just did. I'd commend them even more if they'd stop screwing over the

working class of America.

[blonndee]

34. I tried to be civil by PMing you but you made it clear that you "don't app

reciate" my emails.

So you just go on defending the big giant corporation, whyever that floats your boat. I'd think most progressives/dems would be smarter than that. ANYone can donate if they're rich enough and if it serves their interests in the long term.

Makes me wonder why you're such a fervent WM defender. Is the big blue box beyond reproach??

[Voltaire99]

49. A little clue for the "Let Us Now Praise Famous Wal-Marts" crowd.

My, you are easily impressed. But stop prostrating yourself before the corporate trickle long enough to think for a moment.

Has it never occurred to you that the reason for widespread poverty in the south is the commercial exploitation of workers by Wal-Mart, the region (and nation's) largest employer? That $15 million scarcely begins to repay the systematic damage done by keeping people in wage peonage?

Had Wal-Mart been required to pay these people a living wage, many of them would have had the means to escape Katrina.

Stop commending the devil; he doesn't need it, and you only look foolish.

[still_one]

42. and everyone else here is entitled to their opinion also

one should NOT curse the darkness because they are given one candle

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[still_one]

44. I don't even shop at walmart

but if you are trying to convience people, you sure have a negative way of doing it.

In fact you seem to be attacking people who don't agree with your opinion, more than the reverse

A better question to ask is why so many people didn't even bother to vote in 2000 and 2004

Perhaps watching this tragedy unfold, people may realize what has been done in our name in Iraq? Children who lost their parents, parents who have lost their children. Over 100000 civillians killed in Iraq in OUR NAME!

If people don't even blink an eye at that, what do you expect?

People are going to learn how important voting or lack of voting is. They are going to unfortunately pay for the consequences of their actions by voting this administration in not once but twice.

Keep in mind that the bankrupcy bill will go into effect in October. You can thank the repugs and most of the democrats for that one. In fact you can thank most of the democrats for giving * the authority to go into Iraq. The exceptions are Boxer, Feingold, Kucinich, Byrd, and a few others.

We are about to get a very important lesson in civic duty, the lessons from civil rights and Viet Nam have been too quickly forgotten

[HuckleB]

41. There's a difference between Dubious and Wal Mart?

What is that difference?

[Fleshdancer]

26. Come on people....

I hate Walmart on so many levels its ridiculous at this point.

However, $15 million for the victims of hurricane Katrina is a GOOD THING. I'm not willing to go to their store and I'm not willing to accept their business practices, but I'm willing to say that donating $15 million to this cause is good.

Can we acknowledge the small amount of good here and focus on the bad later?

[Erika]

35. But how much are they going to reduce their employees pay

or benefits for their donation? WalMart gives nothing without gain.

[tritsofme]

36. Wal-Mart Commits Additional $15 Million to Katrina Relief

As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart will establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sarah Clark, 479-273-4314
Melissa O'Brien, 479/273-4314

Bentonville, Ark. August 31, 2005 - Following President Bush's announcement today that former Presidents Bush and Clinton will lead a nationwide fundraising effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott contacted President Clinton and the White House and committed $15 million from Wal-Mart to jump-start the effort.

As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart will establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, tootbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need.

Wal-Mart previously donated $2 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts and has been collecting contributions at its 3,800 stores and CLUBS, and through its web sites .

Through its Associate Disaster Relief Fund, the company will also give displaced associates immediate funds for shelter, food, clothing and other necessities.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUBS in all fifty states. Internationally, the company operates in Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina and South Korea. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT.

http://www.walmartstores.com/wmstore/wmstores/Mainnews.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1990629427.1125640050@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddfdldmdjgcfkfcfkjdgoodglh.0&pagetype=news&template=NewsArticle.jsp&categoryOID=-8300&contentOID=14890&catID=-8248&prevPage=NewsShelf.jsp&year=2005

at least they're doing something....

[HuckleB]

37. On the backs of employees and government social programs.

What a bloody bunch of baloney.

My wife and I have given $500 so far. I'm willing to bet that's exponentially greater than Wal Mart's PR grab.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

38. Saaaay, that's mighty white of 'em!

All things considered, that is....

[HuckleB]

39. PR, PR, PR! Plus they working to ensure that all those small businesses...

that were washed away will never again see the light of day.

Take this nothing gesture, earned on the backs of underpaid employees around the world and government social aid programs and shove up your Wally arse, Wal Mart!

Shit. This is just pure bullshit.

I'm not even going into what my wife and I and many others have given. It may not be in the millions, but it's a hell of a lot more of ourselves, that's for sure.

FUCK! Every tragedy leads to people working angles to make personal gains. Here's Wal Mart's angle.

Don't fall for it.

[Giant Robot]

46. Could they do better yes but...

I have to agree with others on this board who say criticize them when they do something wrong, but praise them when they do good. No their motives are not 100% altruistic. However that does not mean that plenty of good cannot come out of their offers of help.

I think one of the traps we all get into is doing some black and white thinking. Here, some may see Wal-Mart as being evil and everything it does is evil. Wal-Mart is a corporate entity. It is not good. It is not bad. It just is. Probably for the most part, it contributes to a lot of ills of society. But that does not make it pure evil. It just is. And this is one point where it just may be able to do some good. So, *GULP*....

Good for you Wal-Mart. Here's hoping you do more.

[lildreamer316]

47. Ok let's take that and move foreward. n/t

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Algorem]

53. one of those retired Navy billionaire wanna-be's

"me and my Walmart billionaires fart in your general direction,so there".What do they do,let you clean their toilet for minimum wage,ass ociate?"Uh ,I think I'll go down to Walmart today in my Jazzy power chair and see if I can get me a hot date with a Walmart gal,maybe she'll come home with me and watch me shoot some of my innumerable roaches with straight-up Diazanon,maybe the Viagra'll even work fur once...oh boy,less'n 3 owras til the 700 Club is on... "Guess what,Retired Numbnuts,you're not one of them.

[mccoyn]

56. Agreed.

This is not time to get mad at ANYONE providing aid. Its time to say Great! We need more people like that, now.

Can we please take a week off from the politics and corporate hate and work together when we are most in need of it? We can go back to that other stuff (which is important) next week.

[Algorem]

67. I loves mah massas,can't we all jast git along.

[leetrisck]

50. Whatever we think of Wal Mart, they always

jump in and help out - they and others have already sent truckloads of supplies down there - admittedly it probably doesn't help much if it doesn't get to the people once it's there. Know other AR companies have shipped millions of products down there.

[fujiyama]

51. Could be more but

that's more of a response (and quicker) than anything from this administration and the federal government in general. After all, it took until yesterday for those fuckers to come together. They acted quicker for Schiavo.

[Algorem]

52. fuck walmart.

[salin]

54. er... selling goods vs aid... how do folks "demonstrate need?"

and are they going to sell goods to folks at their "ministores" who can't "demonstrate need" (as the press release makes clear is the point) - that have been donated by customers? Am I reading that correctly? People donate, say in Cleveland - and walmart takes that donation to set up a ministore - and may take $ for the goods (that were donated) that they sell to storm victims who can't "demonstrate need?" They are to be applauded for the aid that they give - but the caveat of demonstrating need - unless it is simply trying to prevent folks who weren't struck by the tragedy from trying to get free stuff - is a bit icky.

[seriousstan]

55. What has Costco donated?

[leesa]

57. A day's take...this is nothing to them.

[Zuni]

58. As much as I hate Wal-Mart, I applaud them stepping up

so far, many businesses haven't put fourth anything near this.

Of course, the Wal-mart heirs alone have over 100 Billion Dollars between them, and Wal-mart is the richest retailer in the world.

But still, 15 million will help alot of people and I applaud everyone who is contributing. At least they did something

[JoFerret]

60. May Walmart shrivel and die

.

[sonicx]

61. Walmart helps feul poverty. i'm not impressed. nt

[Gregorian]

62. Just a puny tax write-off. Probably.

Minimal. And it comes right off their taxes, I THINK.

[belle]

65. Oh, that's good. Maybe they could throw in a few more guns, too.

Seems that their shelves have already provided plenty for the panicking people who were left behind.

[LisaM]

66. This disaster is in the heart of Wal-Mart country

do they even have Costco down there? (Not that Costco shouldn't do something, too, and I'm sure they will) but Wal-Mart has plenty of stores all over that part of the country. And they can damn well give back some of the money they've earned off the backs of these people.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

68. Are they sending slaves to help, too?

How generous. :puke:

[Bark Bark Bark]

73. Butbutbut...Big Business Is Teh EVILLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

(NOTE: Not a response to the first post, but to the arguing that's stinking up the thread.)

I once posted about fast food, and was informed by certain people that--by providing customers with goods and services they wanted--McDonalds was committing genocide. ("McDeath?" Oh how very very witty. Drama queen much?)

When I said not every single thing a large business does is inherently evil, I got the same hysterical "fine, go ahead, support the evil ones, and one day they'll kill you and eat you because they are TEH EVIL! I'll bet you hate puppies too!!!" nonsense I'm seeing here.

And of course, when that sort of turdslinging--it's the equivalent of "you're either with us or against us," if one wants to see who's relying on BushCo-style tactics--fails, it's time for Der Border Guarden to start checking each other's credentials. ("How many posts do YOU have?" "Easy for YOU to talk--you're safe at home!" "I'll bet you haven't donated anything!" "When are you going to stop beating your wife?!")

It's like watching the end of the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, only everyone is pointing and screeching at each other.

GROW. UP.

Accept the donation. Thank Wal-Mart for the donation.

But--being a grown-up--remember that big business is about self-interest, not charity. Remember that Wal-Mart treats labor like crap. Don't fawn all over Wal-Mart and elect it Jesus. Don't let there be strings attached to their donation.

They're not Jesus. But they aren't Satan either. Attacking each other isn't going to convince anyone otherwise.

*waits to be reamed over "moderate" position*

[nini]

74. good. they should be doing this

I'll refrain from bashing them if they're doing anything. More than the Bush family has I betcha

[laugle]

75. That's like middle class people donating 10cents!!