UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Walmart and Sam’s Club build on their continued support of military appreciation tailgate events for more than a decade with a $30,000 scholarship to benefit connected Penn State students. By providing the money, he deepened his long-standing relationship with the university. With the military. This expansion of philanthropy was guided by Walmart’s Community Outreach Program, which aims to ensure military service-involved families have the resources to succeed throughout their education. This marks a major milestone in Penn State’s efforts.
“Walmart has always invested in building safe, strong, and vibrant communities, and we pursue the credentials military families need to thrive both in uniform and during their transition to civilian life.” We consider it a special duty and privilege to help them do so,” said Michael Del Rosario, regional transportation manager for Walmart. “We look forward to seeing the impact these scholarships will have in eliminating financial barriers and promoting educational success.”
The influx of funds will create 24 scholarships of $1,250 each, all of which will be distributed to recipients during this academic year. Eligible individuals include active duty military, National Guard, veterans, members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or their dependents, and prospective or prospective students with documented financial need. students included. This scholarship is intended to fill the tuition funding gap not fully covered by the GI Bill and open doors for first-generation college students.
The gift was formally awarded at the 12th Annual Military Appreciation Tailgate held at the Bryce Jordan Center on Oct. 28, with Penn State President Neeri Bendapudi in attendance and a tribute to Penn State’s men and women who served and sacrificed. Citizens of the state were publicly recognized.
“It’s great to see Penn State and local residents come together with Walmart through this annual partnership to recognize veterans, service members, and military families,” Bendapudi said. “Thanks to this generosity, the Military Appreciation Tailgate is the largest in the Big Ten, with thousands of people attending each year. We would like to thank those who support this celebration and serve our country. We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered their time to serve.”
2023 marks the 11th year that Penn State has benefited from Walmart’s support of Military Appreciation Week. This cooperation began in 2013 with the Second Military Appreciation Football Game. Largely due to Walmart’s participation, this event now far exceeds the scope and scale of previous events. At a similar event at the Big Ten Conference, 300 to 400 Walmart employees and their spouses and children volunteered to cook and serve 8,000 to 10,000 attendees. As in past years, Walmart also provided the university with all tailgate meals free of charge. The event’s food and festivities were complemented by live entertainment by the band of the 28th Infantry Division and Blue in the Face, Penn State’s coed a cappella group.
“We feel a deep sense of gratitude for all that Walmart has done over the past decade to honor and support the extraordinary military service men and women we call Pennsylvanians, and this latest commitment to the Penn State Military Student Fund is , which doubles down on generosity,” said Eugene McFeely, senior director of Veterans Affairs and Services. “Walmart and Sam’s Club have truly emerged as great partners for universities and steadfast allies for military families.”
Walmart’s donation in support of Military Appreciation Week and the Penn State Military Student Fund extends broader efforts to support military families at events across the region, including the annual event at the Pennsylvania Military Museum supporting the 28th Infantry Division It represents a part of. Nationwide, Walmart invested more than $1.1 billion in veteran-owned businesses last year and hired more than 66,000 veterans and military spouses, bringing its total employment over 10 years to more than 500,000. . Additionally, to better support veterans as they reintegrate into their communities, Walmart has committed more than $44 million since 2011 to specialized job training, education, and innovative public and private community-based initiatives. I’ve invested.
Walmart.org (the official name of the giving organization) is comprised of Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation, which together provided more than $1.7 billion in annual cash and in-kind donations last year.
The Penn State Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to ensuring military-connected students have access to all aspects of higher education and helping them succeed during their time at Penn State and as they transition into post-educational endeavors. I am. In 2019, the Student Veterans Center opened in the renovated Ritenour Building. The modernized 6,300-square-foot center has consolidated and expanded services that provide assistance with GI Bill benefits, college transition programs, peer-to-peer mentoring and support, counseling resources, and more.
Donors and philanthropic organizations like Walmart and Sam’s Club advance the university’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends help students join the Penn State family and prepare for a lifetime of success. We advance research, advocacy and economic development to strengthen our shared strengths and readiness for the future. and increase the University’s impact on families, patients and communities across the Commonwealth and around the world. For more information, visit raise.psu.edu.