Walmart Foundation gives $600,000 to Jones Center in Springdale
by March 5, 2018 3:53 pm 312 views
The Walmart Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Bentonville-based retailer, recently awarded $600,000 to the Jones Center for Families in Springdale and will present a check 9 a.m. on Tuesday (March 6) in the Jones Center lobby.
The grant will help support Spring Break Week at the Jones Center, March 19-25, which features special programming and theme days, according to a press release. The center will offer access to its amenities for $3 each day from noon to 8 p.m. during that week.
“The Jones Center has been able to expand its quality programming for families and youth with the help and support of the Walmart Foundation,” Kelly Kemp-McLintock, chief advancement officer at the Jones Center, said in the release. “We are grateful for their partnership in helping us sustain founder Bernice Jones’ vision of an affordable regional center ‘where all are welcome.’”
The Walmart Foundation through its Northwest Arkansas corporate giving program has two focuses: providing greater access to hunger relief and healthy eating services and enhancing the quality of life in NWA, with a specific focus on inclusion and access for low income residents, according to its website.
“The Jones Center provides a safe, fun and welcoming environment for youth and families in our area, whether it’s recreation venues or the after-school programs,” Erin Hogue, senior manager at the Walmart Foundation, said in the press release. “We’re proud to support the center as they continue to offer accessible programming and recreation amenities to Northwest Arkansas residents for learning and development.”
The Jones Center is a 220,000-square-foot facility that provides a broad range of programs and amenities that include two year-round indoor pools, indoor year-round ice arena, fitness center & classes, gymnasium, conference center and auditorium.
“We are grateful to the Walmart Foundation’s long-time support. The Jones Center is an important amenity in Northwest Arkansas and serves as an anchor in Downtown Springdale,” Ed Clifford, president and CEO of the Jones Trust and the Jones Center, said in a press release. “Support from the Walmart Foundation continues to help us keep the highest quality recreation and programming accessible for everyone.”