Waltons give $27.5M to Arizona State program

Posted: 03/29/2012
Last Updated: 3 hours and 7 minutes ago
By: Associated Press

TEMPE, AZ - Arizona State University's efforts to promote sustainability have received a $27.5 million boost thanks to a donation from the foundation funded by Walmart chairman Rob Walton and his wife, Melani.

ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability will use the gift announced Thursday to fund four strategies in the coming five years.

They include providing seed-funding for promising sustainability research ideas, training the next generation of sustainability scholars and practitioners and education efforts.

The institute aims to help cities and businesses avoid depleting the environment.

Rob Walton is the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton and serves on the board of ASU's sustainability institute.

The donation came from the Rob and Melani Walton Fund of the Walton Family Foundation. The couple have a home in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley.

Waltons give $27.5M to Arizona State program