Walmart donated $5,000 grants each to the Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center and Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch at a check presentation ceremony held Friday afternoon in Bridge.
According to all in attendance, the donation was originally mentioned by Rep. Four Price of the 87th District as a way of working together to give back to the community. Price and his wife were unable to attend, but left a message, which was read by The Bridge’s executive director, Sherry Bohannon.
“Walmart has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to improving our communities across the country, throughout Texas, and here in Amarillo. They are great community partners. We are proud to have received these generous financial gifts to two local organizations that are important to our community,” Price said in a statement.
Carl Carruthers, Walmart Market Health & Wellness Director for Region 46, spoke about the importance of giving back to the community, especially The Bridge and Boys Ranch, which feeds the region’s youth. talked about the importance of
“Through Price, who was able to reach us at Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, we were able to give back and make these personal connections here in the Amarillo community.” We love serving our local communities and whenever we can give back to our nonprofits, it’s just great to see them making these connections and using their resources to further meet the needs of their communities. I am humble.
According to Richard Nedelkoff, president and CEO of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, the $5,000 grant contribution will benefit those who reside at both Boys Ranch and Girls Ranch and participate in vocational and educational experience programs. will be used.
Nedelkoff, who took office about six months ago, spoke about what the donation means for the ranch and what it means for him personally as the new president and CEO.
“It is special to me to follow the enormous legacy that the organization has built with Cal Farley and everyone who followed,” said Nedelkov. We know that a lot of people have a huge responsibility to try to give them a direction they’ve never experienced in their lives.This is an opportunity to do it on a larger scale….with Walmart With the generosity they have given us with this grant, it will help us further that goal and have a greater impact on what we offer at the ranch.”
In his presentation, Bohannon said the $5,000 grant given by Walmart was the initial funding for The Bridge’s $120,000 campaign to replace obsolete recording equipment that has not been used for ten years. rice field. Since seed funding was first granted, Bridges has been able to replace the equipment in his Seven Interviews room across the Texas Panhandle. The Executive Director spoke about the device’s vitality in reducing trauma in children.
“This facility is important and what we are doing is important because the children we see are sexually assaulted, physically assaulted, or witnessed happening to someone else. “It’s because you’re going through a very traumatic event whether you’ve been there or not,” Bohannon said. so that the child can return to normal life, the interviews we conduct allow us to proceed with the investigative portion without involving the child further. Feelings and everything they said can be reconfirmed in interviews.”
According to The Bridge, the donation is part of a long-standing partnership with Walmart that makes community participation invaluable to the organization.
“Walmart helps us in so many ways. From cookies to sponsorships, small to big, their partnerships are always there. They travel with us, and that’s priceless,” Bohannon said. “There is no other way to express how much they have helped us other than thanking them.”
