National Recreation and Park Association Receives $2.5 Million Grant to Increase the Number of Meals Served to Youth through Commit to Health Program

(September 14, 2016)

Funding is part of more than $33 million in grants awarded to 11 national non-profits by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation

Ashburn, VA (September 14, 2016) ­– The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is one of 11 organizations that share the commitment to fight hunger with Walmart and the Walmart Foundation and were selected to receive grant funding to increase the number of healthy meals served to youth at park and recreation sites through NRPA’s Commit to Health program.

With the USDA reporting that in 2015, 42.2 million people in America, including more than 13 million children lived in households at risk of struggling with hunger, the Walmart and the Walmart Foundation grants are helping provide meals to those who need them the most and helping students access the nutritious food they need for focused minds - both in and out of school.

The $2.5 million in funding provided to NRPA from the Walmart Foundation will help over one million children and families by:

  • Increasing the number of healthy meals children in low-income communities receive through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) during out-of-school times.
  • Providing nutrition literacy to children and families that create behavior change by teaching the importance of healthy eating.
  • Implementing nutrition and physical activity standards that increase access to healthier foods and increase opportunities for physical activity.
  • Promoting meal and program efficiencies that will decrease food waste and lead to more sustainable meal programs.

“NRPA shares Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s commitment to fighting hunger and is thrilled to receive this grant funding — continuing our long-standing partnership,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA President and CEO. “Through this partnership we have been able to provide nearly 60 million healthy meals to youth, including 20 million meals in 2015, through our Commit to Health and nutrition programs.”

“These philanthropic investments are the latest examples of our long-standing commitment to hunger relief and dedication to ensuring every family has access to healthy and affordable food in the times and places they may need it,” said Karrie Denniston, Senior Director of the Walmart Foundation. “Collaboration and dedication are key to making a positive impact on the issue of hunger in the U.S. and we’re proud to work with the National Recreation and Park Association and our ten other nonprofit partners to support hunger relief and nutrition education for families in need. Thanks to the programs our partners have implemented, millions of children and families will have access to the healthy food needed to support a successful school year and beyond.”

The grant awarded to NRPA is one of 11 grants awarded to national nonprofit organizations totaling more than $33 million to fund nutrition education and meal programs for youth, and increase families’ access to fruits and vegetables through state and federal nutrition assistance programs.

In October of 2014, Walmart announced a commitment to create a more sustainable food system, with a focus on improving affordability by lowering the “true cost” of food for both customers and the environment, increasing access to food, making healthier eating easier, and improving the safety and transparency of the food chain. The commitment includes a goal of providing four billion meals to those in need by 2020.

For more information about the grant awarded to the NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org/committohealth.

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About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 52,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

About Walmart 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million customers and members visit our 11,535 stores under 72 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2016 revenue of $482.1 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting https://corporate.walmart.com/ on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at https://www.walmart.com/ and https://www.samsclub.com/.