Today, Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) announced the final 25 of 100 schools receiving a $25,000 grant as part of the company’s Give With Target initiative. The schools were revealed in conjunction with a surprise celebration held today at Sarah M. Roach Elementary School in Baltimore, Md. Disney Channel actress and Hollywood Records recording artist Bridgit Mendler, along with Target team member volunteers, hosted the event.
Give With Target was a two-part giving campaign aimed at helping schools across the country just in time for the new school year. As part of the program, Target will provide $2.5 million in grants to 100 in-need schools, as well as $2.5 million in Target GiftCards to schools that received votes on Target’s Facebook page.
“It has been a wonderful journey with Target, awarding grants and celebrating in cities across the country,” said Bridgit Mendler, Disney star. “I’m thrilled I was able to be a part of such a meaningful back to school effort supporting schools through Give With Target.”
The 100 in-need schools were announced throughout August, and today marks the final announcement and surprise celebration with celebrity spokesperson Bridgit Mendler.
“Target wants teachers and students nationwide to have the resources they need to help kids succeed in the classroom,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. “With Target’s $5 million donation to schools, we stand by our commitment to help put more children on the path to graduation.”
A secondary component of the Give With Target initiative was an application on Target’s Facebook page that encouraged the public to vote for a school of their choice to receive up to $10,000 in Target GiftCards from Target. For every 25 votes a school received through the Give With Target Facebook application, the company committed to donating a $25 Target GiftCard, with a maximum donation of $10,000 per school. The Facebook component launched on July 26 and ran for less than four weeks before reaching the maximum $2.5 million donation. As a result of the Facebook campaign more than 30,000 schools were impacted.
Give With Target is part of Target’s commitment to education. As a result of programs like this, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,772 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.