Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s charitable foundations gave $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts for the company's 2009 fiscal year, a 25 percent increase from a year ago.
The company said Thursday that Wal-Mart in the U.S. gave $378 million and that its international stores gave $45.5 million in cash and in-kind gifts for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. Wal-Mart said its workers and customers gave an additional $106 million through in-store giving programs that benefit local charities.
Wal-Mart said in-kind contributions include more than 33 million pounds of meat, fresh produce and other foods that were donated to food banks. The company also supports various disaster relief efforts.
Other aid has gone to military families, the Salvation Army, the Children's Miracle Network, the Special Olympics and numerous other entities.
"During these tough economic times, we know we have a responsibility to continually look for ways to increase our giving and focus our local contributions towards organizations that can do the most good — and have a lasting, positive impact in communities around the globe," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.
For the last two years, Wal-Mart has ranked as the largest corporate cash contributor in America, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
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