Wal-Mart Donates Money for Earthquake Relief in China

Wal-Mart said yesterday it is providing more than RMB 3 million (U.S. $430,000) in disaster relief and reconstruction for the central part of China that has been affected by the worst earthquakes in more than 30 years.

A portion of the money will be given to the China Red Cross for disaster relief. In addition, assistance will be provided to help reconstruct the devastated communities. Partnering with local communities and authorities, Wal-Mart stores and its Trust-Mart stores in China have been providing essential supplies and assistance to associates, customers, and neighbors in the impacted areas -- donating water and other emergency related products such as food, batteries, and clothing.

Wal-Mart began its retail operations in China in 1996 when it opened a Supercenter and Sam's Club in Shenzhen. Neighborhood Markets soon followed, and in February 2007, Wal-Mart China invested in the hypermarket chain Trust-Mart, which operates more than 100 retail units. In total, Wal-Mart and Trust-Mart currently operate 205 retail outlets in China.

In other Wal-Mart news, the retailer said it has been named one of the "Best Companies for Asian Pacific Americans" by Asian Enterprise magazine, the largest Asian-American small business-focused publication in the country.

"Our commitment to serving the Asian and Pacific-Islander American community is rooted in our belief that diversity is a business imperative, as well as the right thing to do," said Esther Silver-Parker, s.v.p., diversity relations for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "From our internal supplier diversity initiatives to our external community partnerships, we continue to look for ways to broaden our efforts to support the APIA community."
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