Walmart announced plans to donate $2 million to two congressional minority caucus foundations to fund programs for students and young professionals.
The Arkansas-based retail giant said on Tuesday that the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute will each receive three, $1 million grants that will be put toward the payment of congressional internships, monthly stipends, housing and professional and leadership training.
“At Walmart, our commitment to diversity and inclusion spreads beyond our stores and out into the communities where our associates and customers live,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president of programs at Walmart. “Through relationships with organizations like CHCI and CBCF that reflect the diversity of American society, we can open the door to help more young people build a career in public service and expand the pipeline of talent on Capitol Hill and beyond by providing our future leaders with the tools needed for success.
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The company cited in a press release statistics from the Pew Research Center that show that while non-white Americans comprise approximately 36 percent of the population, less than 20 percent of congressional representatives are people of color.
“Walmart has led the way as the Founding Partner for CHCI’s Congressional Internship Program by significantly investing in our nation’s future leaders,” said Rep. Joaquín Castro, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. “We value Walmart’s support of CHCI’s mission to address underrepresentation of Latinos on Capitol Hill by providing transformative experiences and the critical skills needed to embark on careers in public service.”