Wal-Mart Aids the Paralyzed Veterans Of America

Wal-Mart, a home-grown international retailing giant, stood up for the veterans of Arkansas and the United States by contributing a record $150,000 donation to an outdoors recreation endowment established by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

Randy Pleva, PVA national president stated, “We are very thankful for this generous $150,000 contribution from a company that has a long history of giving back to the community. Wal-Mart has opened the door of outdoor sports and recreational activities for paralyzed veterans across the country who have given so much already. PVA is grateful and we look forward to a relationship with Wal-Mart in the years to come.” A congressionally chartered nonprofit veterans’ service organization founded in 1946, PVA accepted the donation in the office of Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR), a physician and Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam.

Rep. Snyder, of Little Rock, has actively campaigned for outdoor recreation opportunities for disabled veterans and their families. He also assisted with developing the relationship between Wal-Mart and PVA. “Hunting, fishing, and the outdoors play an important part in the lives of many of Arkansas’s families,” Snyder said.

PVA, in cooperation with Snyder, has already begun to assist Little Rock’s nearby Camp Robinson for use by disabled veterans and their families. The Wal-Mart donation will support this Arkansas project as well as many more across the nation. “This partnership between Wal-Mart and the Paralyzed Veterans of America will support accessible outdoor sports for our disabled veterans, especially on Camp Robinson, is an inspiring example of cooperation between community and business,” Snyder said. “This was a great idea and is truly a wonderful thing for our veterans and their families.”

Wal-Mart, based at Bentonville, AR, contributed the $150,000 to PVA’s Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund. The fund is designed to facilitate accessible traditional outdoor recreation for paralyzed veterans, their families, and others with disabilities. Lt. Col. Lew Deal, a fellow Marine (retired) and director of Outdoor Sports Development for PVA, welcomed the contributions of Snyder and Wal-Mart. “Wal-Mart’s generosity ensures a better quality of life for America’s disabled veterans not just today but decades to come,” Deal said. “We thank Congressman Snyder for his personal support and concern for our veterans. America should be proud of this. For thousands of disabled veterans, life just took a giant leap forward.” Ray Bracy, VP of government relations for the worldwide retailing company, welcomed the opportunity for Wal-Mart to align itself with PVA. Bracy is a Navy veteran who pledged further support for PVA’s outdoor programs for paralyzed veterans.

“We are a company committed to veterans’ issues,” Bracy said. “We have many employees, at last count more than 2,000, who have gone to serve our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many, unfortunately, have suffered injuries in combat. They are part of our family. We want to support them, and all veterans. We look forward to a long-term relationship with PVA, one of many fine organizations supporting our veterans.” He concluded, “We hope this relationship prospers. We are inspired by what PVA is doing for paralyzed veterans who want to be outdoors.”

Since 1946, PVA has been dedicated to providing quality outdoor sports opportunities for paralyzed veterans and others with disabilities. These activities are designed to promote a lifetime of health and fitness. These programs encompass a variety of activities from local to national levels and facilitate full individual participation.

In 2002 the PVA Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund was established to permanently endow PVA’s many outdoor sports programs. Donations are tax-deductible and will remain in the fund perpetually generating annual revenues. For more information go to www.pvaheritagefund.org or call 1-877-782-3648.