Wal-Mart's International
Giving Makes Global
Impact
'Tis the season of
giving and thousands of
Wal-Mart stores
worldwide are
participating in
programs to benefit the
communities they serve.
From Mexico to the
United Kingdom and Costa
Rica to Canada,
employees of the retail
giant have spearheaded
fundraising and gift
giving activities to
help those in need.
"This year, our
associates' efforts will
have culminated in
helping hundreds of
thousands of people
around the world," said
Mike Duke, vice chairman
of Wal-Mart's
International Division.
"It's engrained in our
culture to give back to
the communities we
serve, and our
associates have shown
the power of helping
hearts and hands."
In Costa Rica, Wal-Mart
employees partnered with
the Centeno Guell
school, an organization
assisting children with
disabilities, to help
raise funds.
Children created a
calendar sold in
Wal-Mart stores with
pictures they drew of
their dreams. The group
expects to raise more
than US$10,000 to help
improve the school's
recreational facilities.
In North America,
Wal-Mart's U.S. and
Canadian stores are
working with the
Salvation Army's
Christmas Kettle
Campaign to benefit
millions of families.
In the United Kingdom,
Wal-Mart-owned ASDA
stores are getting in
the holiday spirit by
offering dedicated
donation points where
customers can donate
anything from toys to
toiletries and will have
the opportunity to
choose where their gifts
go.
In Mexico, Fundacion
Wal-Mart partnered with
Wal-Mart's stores to
offer several holiday
giving programs under
the "Share A Smile"
theme.
In Costa Rica Wal-Mart
operates the grocery
stores Mas X Menos (23
stores), Maxi Bodega (8
stores), Palí (108
stores) and department
store Hiper Más (6
stores), employing
8.675.
In September 2005,
Wal-Mart acquired a 33
1/3 percent interest in
CARHCO from the Dutch
retailer Royal Ahold NV.
In March 2006, Wal-Mart
increased its interest
to 51% and the name
CARHCO was changed to
Wal-Mart Central
America. Wal-Mart
Central America is the
region’s largest
retailer, with 450
stores and over 27,000
associates in Guatemala,
El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua and Costa
Rica.
Apart from Ahold, CARHCO
consisted of three
operating companies: La
Fragua, founded in
Guatemala in 1928 by
Carlos Paiz Ayala; CSU,
founded in Costa Rica in
1960 by Enrique Uribe
Pages; and Corporación
de Compañías
Agroindustriales (CCA),
a supplier of meat and
seafood, fruit, grain,
vegetables and bakery
products.
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