Special to The TIMES
Walmart Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge announced that it will award 20 teachers from Pea Ridge Primary School with $50 reward cards to purchase classroom supplies that will help students start the school year off right as part of the company's Teacher Rewards program.
For the sixth year, Walmart will donate more than $4.5 million to provide 90,000 teachers across the United States with reward cards to help offset the cost of classroom expenses at the beginning of the school year. These funds come at a critical time, as many teachers will spend an estimated $1,000 of their own money to ensure their students have the supplies they need to learn throughout the school year.
"It is always a positive when the school and local community can work together. Our teachers work very hard to provide the best opportunity for our students. Pea Ridge Primary School is very grateful to have Walmart Neighborhood Market recognize our teachers for their hard work!" said Aaron Gaffigan, principal of Pea Ridge Primary School.
More than 5,000 U.S. Walmart stores, Distribution Centers and Sam's Club locations are eligible to select one local public school, grades K-8, and provide reward cards to 20 teachers from each selected school. Winning teachers can use the funds to purchase essential items for their classrooms such as paper, folders, binders, pencils, crayons and markers.
"We are proud to honor our community's teachers, who give time and often their own money to ensure our students have everything they need to be successful throughout the school year. At Walmart, we are dedicated to supporting our nation's teachers by providing support and resources needed to continue educating the future leaders of our community," said Tim Costello, store manager, Pea Ridge Neighborhood Market.
The Teacher Rewards program is an extension of Walmart's ongoing support of local initiatives that help students, teachers and families better prepare for their future including programs like Breakfast in the Classroom, Fill the Bus and Farm to School.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts that draw on the strengths of Walmart in the arenas of sustainability, economic opportunity, and community. As part of our commitment to creating a more sustainable food system worldwide, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States. They recently exceeded a $2 billion goal to fight hunger one year ahead of schedule and have donated more than 1.5 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
Community on 10/28/2015