Target India today announced United Way Worldwide education grants to 14 NGOs in Bangalore as part of its International Giving Program. Target’s International Giving Program focuses on creating accessible, quality educational opportunities for children and youth in many of the countries where Target has offices, including India. Today, Laysha Ward, President of Community Relations at Target, along with Target team member volunteers, celebrated the spirit of community giving with more than 80 children from the affiliated community organizations at Target India’s headquarters offices in Bangalore.
“Since 1946, Target has given five percent of its profit to support local communities, and education is at the heart of this giving.” said Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations, Target. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her full potential and we are proud to extend our International Giving Program to additional partners in India.”
The 14 NGOs receiving grants in Bangalore for 2013 include:
- Christel House India
- Jeevodaya
- Akshara Foundation
- Makkalla Jagriti
- Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
- Shishu Mandir
- Mathru Educational Trust for the Blind
- Sivasri Charitable Trust
- Dream School Foundation
- Smile Foundation
- SOS Children’s Villages of India
- Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement
- United Way of Bengaluru
- YuvaLok Foundation
“Our relationship with Target is a great example of how corporates and social organizations can come together to bridge the literacy gap in India. The gift of education is perhaps the most valuable contribution one can make to a child’s life. We at Akshara Foundation are committed to bringing a positive change to the lives of thousands of children through quality education. Target India has supported us in our efforts to drive this change for three consecutive years now. We are certain that our collaboration in the future will continue to help us make a difference in our communities,” said Ashok Kamath, Chairman, Akshara Foundation.
“Through Target’s International Giving Program, we reinforce our longstanding commitment to create bright futures for children by improving access to quality education,” said Navneet Kapoor, President and Managing Director, Target India. “The 2,800 Target India team members look forward to continued volunteer efforts with these important NGO partners.”
Target’s International Giving Program provides volunteer hours, disaster response and funds grants through United Way Worldwide in countries around the world where our Target Sourcing Services and Target India team members live and work. In 2012, Target India team members volunteered more than 5,791 hours to projects like library makeovers, renovating auditoriums and classrooms, book distribution drives, career counseling for schoolchildren, library software donations, training teachers in basic computer skills and more.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,781 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 profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.
Target India
As an extension of our headquarters, Target India operates as a fully integrated part of our global team. Target India’s more than 2,800 team members are engaged in work that supports Target’s global strategy across business areas such as technology, marketing, human resources, finance, merchandising, supply chain, property development, analytics and reporting.
Target cares about and invests in the career development of our 365,000 team members worldwide and the communities where they live and work. Target’s International Giving Program focuses on creating accessible, quality educational opportunities for children and youth in many of the countries where Target has offices, including India.
About United Way Worldwide
United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 40 countries and territories. It serves the United Way movement by being a leader in philanthropy and a mobilizer of resources, helping to shape the world’s health and human services agenda and create a better quality of life for all. United Way Worldwide’s International Donor Advised Giving program (IDAG) helps companies, foundations and individuals achieve their global philanthropic goals by providing comprehensive grant-making services that comply with both US and in-country laws.