Wal-Mart Vendors Give Back to UA

More than 40 vendors to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. were represented July 16 at the eighth annual Vendors FORE Education Golf Tournament at Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club in Fayetteville. The group raised $10,000 to donate for student scholarships in the Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business.

Tournament founders Russ Heithoff, the Wal-Mart team leader for Bayer HealthCare’s consumer care division, and Erik Wolff, president of E. Wolff Sales Solutions, said the event became philanthropic three years ago. It has now raised a total of $17,000 for scholarships that are doled out based on academic achievement and financial need. Four students have received them so far.

Thirty-six teams totaling 144 golfers participated this year, up from 30 teams in 2003.

Wolff’s firm helps manufacturers sell to Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart.

“This started eight years ago during the annual Wal-Mart shareholders meeting,” Wolff said. “That used to be a good time because everyone was coming to town. But that week has gotten so hectic, and so many people live here now, we just ended up pushing it back to another time.”

Heithoff said supporting the Walton College and local students is one of the best ways to help promote professionalism in retailing and at the same time give back to the community.

Among this year’s winners were: David May of QuickTurn, Brad Conley of Del Pharmaceuticals, Brian Allen of Johnson & Johnson and Brad Bohannan of AstraZeneca.