University of Arkansas Lands $1 Million Gift From Walmart, Walton Family

A combined $1 million gift from Walmart and the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation will fund the renovation and expansion of the current Sam M. Walton College of Business display, honoring Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton.

Each organization donated $500,000 to update the display in the Business Administration Building on the University of Arkansas campus.

“These generous gifts will allow the University of Arkansas and the Walton College to create a world class tribute to its namesake, Mr. Sam Walton, who had a transformational impact on the business world, and our university,” said University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We are deeply grateful for these very significant gifts and I know our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends will enjoy learning more about his extraordinary legacy.”

The current exhibit is housed in a single display case in a secluded, low-traffic area of the building. The renovated tribute will highlight the Walton memorabilia over three levels of the building’s central stairway and atrium space and will include interactive displays, modern furnishings and high-quality lighting. The new space will be viewed by thousands of people each year.

In 1998, the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation gave $50 million to the then-named College of Business Administration.