The East Lake Foundation today announced it received a $70,000 contribution to assist with the Resident and Community Support Program (RCSP) in The Villages of East Lake. The grant – which was given to the non-profit organization through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program – will work to provide residents with employment readiness and financial education services.
“We are grateful to the Walmart Foundation for renewing their support for the East Lake Foundation through this generous grant,” said Daniel Shoy, Jr., president of the East Lake Foundation. “With this important financial support, the Resident and Community Support Program at The Villages of East Lake will continue to provide employment and financial assistance to families and improve their overall economic stability.”
The East Lake Foundation offers residents in Atlanta’s East Lake community opportunities to build a better life through a three pillar model: cradle-to-college education, affordable mixed-income housing and community wellness initiatives.
“Walmart is excited to continue to support the East Lake Foundation,” said Glen Wilkins, Georgia’s director of public affairs and government relations at Walmart. “Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to supporting programs that provide educational opportunities and improve their communities.”
The contribution to the East Lake Foundation was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Georgia State Giving Program (SGP). Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. In the last fiscal year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $45.68 million in cash and in-kind contributions to support nonprofit organizations and programs in Georgia focused on fighting hunger and healthy eating, workforce development, disaster preparedness and other needs specific to many Georgia communities.
To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum funding criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at http://foundation.walmart.com/apply-for-grants/state-giving.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
About The East Lake Foundation
Founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, the East Lake Foundation collaborates with public and private organizations to provide tools that enable Atlanta’s East Lake residents to build a better future through its model for community revitalization.
The East Lake model includes cradle-to-college education at Charles R. Drew Charter School and its early learning partners, mixed-income housing at The Villages of East Lake and community wellness through programs including The First Tee® of East Lake, the Resident and Community Support Program, Start:ME East Lake micro-entrepreneur program and East Lake Healthy Connections. This approach to building a strong community not only helps break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, but creates a place where people of all ages and incomes choose to live. East Lake has become a national model for holistic community revitalization programs through its sister organization, Purpose Built Communities. Additional information is available at www.eastlakefoundation.org.
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Walmart Contact: Kate Heling, Cookerly Public Relations, (678) 686-7992, kate@cookerly.com
East Lake Foundation Contact: Catherine Woodling, East Lake Foundation, (404) 974-4506, cwoodling@eastlakefoundation.com
