Sam's Club pledges $2 million for Giving Made Simple campaign

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is highlighting health-and-wellness issues through its latest campaign, and has pledged to donate up to $2 million to four nonprofits.

The retailer's 2011 Giving Made Simple campaign allows Sam's Club members and associates to direct a portion of the company's donations to four health-related nonprofit organizations: Alliance for a Healthier Generation, OASIS, Sesame Street and The Y.

Members and associates can vote in clubs July 9 and 10, and online every day beginning Monday at SamsClub.com/GivingMadeSimple and on Facebook through Aug. 1. Each member and associate vote adds $5 to the amount that a designated participating organization receives, allowing the nonprofits to receive a minimum of $50,000 and up to $500,000 each, Sam's Club said.

"This year, we are focusing our annual Giving Made Simple campaign on health and wellness and prevention of chronic disease, which we know is a top concern for everyone," Sam's Club health-and-wellness SVP Jill Turner-Mitchael said. "We are proud that we can direct our philanthropy to make communities healthier and combine our giving with business initiatives, such as $4 generic prescriptions, free monthly health screenings in clubs, health management programs and more."

As previously reported by Drug Store News, Sam's Club this weekend also will host free health screenings for kids in its stores nationwide.