Contact: Fernando Labastida, 214-357-2186, Parents Step Ahead

                                                                        Kristin Welsh, 214-871-7723, Allyn Media

Donation to aid in Parent Programs in Dallas & San Antonio for 2015

Dallas, TX – October 10, 2014 – Parents Step Ahead received a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program to assist with Parent Programs in 2014. Specifically, this grant positively impact the educational and empowering seminars that Parents Step Ahead provides at Dallas and San Antonio area schools.

Parents Step Ahead offer school-based seminar programs for parents throughout the year.Educators, motivational speakers, community volunteers and experts present seminars on parenting and school involvement, computer and digital literacy, underage drinking, internet safety, health, finance and other topics.

“We are grateful to the Walmart Foundation for this grant,” said Chair and Founder of Parents Step Ahead Lupita Colmenero. ‘With their contribution, more schools and families will benefit from the work Parents Step Ahead does, which is empowering and enabling families by securing a better future for their kid’s success and well-being.”

“At the Walmart Foundation, we understand that organizations such as Parents Step Ahead are essential to building stronger communities. They share our values and are committed to helping empower and enable parents to play a proactive role in their children’s lives,” said Sonya Hostetler, Regional General Manager. “Through this donation, we are hopeful that parents in Dallas and San Antonio will be able to reap the benefits of these powerful and educational programs.”

Each school-based program includes a free meal, childcare and gift raffles, culminating with a raffle of personal computer systems donated by supporters. Parents Step Ahead has reached more than 20,000 parents and their children among 45 schools in the area.

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria.  Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

Walmart has a $2 billion commitment to fight hunger through 2015. In fact, Walmart reached $260 million in cash and $2.6 billing in in-kind donations nationwide, delivering on its commitment one year early. Additionally, just in the last fiscal year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave $111.2 million to Texas nonprofits.  For more information on Walmart’s fight against hunger, visit http://foundation.walmart.com/our-focus/hunger.

About Parents Step Ahead

Parents Step Ahead is a 501-C3 nonprofit organization with a mission “to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children.” The organization works in partnership with school districts, corporations and community organizations to offer a series of school-based programs for parents of all backgrounds throughout the school calendar year. PSA Programs focus on ways parents and legal guardians can be involved in their child’s life and the difference their involvement can make. www.parentsstepahead.org.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, career opportunity and women’s economic empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.