A friend of mine sent this along. I checked it out, turns out it's true. Apparently Target has excluded Veterans' Organizations and Veterans' events from the their Corporate Donations Policy. I find it hard to believe that such a large chunk of the charity pie like Veterans' Organizations would be excluded by accident. You decide. Myself, I have already told the wife to stay away from the store...
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Excerpt from Truthorfiction.com
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Summary of the eRumor:
The message urges not buying anything at Target stores because the company turned down a request for funds for a Vietnam veterans memorial wall. It says that a man named Dick Forrey of the "Vietnam Veterans Association" asked a local Target store for the donation and was told that ve
The Truth:
Dick Forrey is listed as being with Howard County Vietnam Veterans in the state of Indiana. He says that he did have the experiences both with the local Target store and the Target corporate offices as is described in the story.
The Target company is sending a written response to people who inquire about this story that says that Target gives $2 million per week in the communities where stores are located. The Target letter says a veteran approached a local store in March, 2002 for a $100 donation to a "moving wall" project. The response says that any donations by local stores are not in cash but in gift certificates or volunteer time. Cash is given by the corporate office and in response to official requests for grants. The letter says that the veteran who asked for the donation should have been given grant information from the store, but was not. The Target response also says that the company makes donations in three general areas: education, arts and family violence prevention. The company is happy to donate to any veterans causes that would fit within those guidelines. So while it's true that donations would not be given to a veterans project per se, they would be given if the veterans project is within the guidelines.
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A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
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GUNS SHOULD GO HOT ON THIS - - -
I was really shocked when I found out that the following statement was
made when TARGET regional/local managers were approched to support US VETERANS.
I am not really sure what can be done; however, without a change of policy from the TARGET CORPORATION, I REFUSE TO SHOP THERE ANY MORE. and, I will discourage anyone else from shopping there.
I was informed of this E-Mail by an Army LTC, and a Navy MASTER-CHIEF [RETIRED - VietNam river boat VET] If the E-mail below is in error, please let me know. Both of these Veterans I consider extremely reliable.
V.Caine
Vietnam Veterans Not Worthy Of Target's Help?
By Dick Forrey, Vietnam Veterans Association
We asked our local Target store to be a sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We received back a reply from Target management that "veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the areas of arts, social actions and education."
My thought: if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Vietnam veteran himself, does not meet the criteria of these areas, something is wrong at Target. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds, but simply sponsorship endorsement for a "memorial remembrance".
As follow-up, I e-mailed the corporate Headquarters and their response was the same. Personally, I will NOT be buying anything at Target Stores again. If the Vietnam Veteran does not meet their area of giving then why should I, as a Vietnam veteran, spend my hard earned money in their stores?
Please pass this only to as many people as you know. Maybe Target and other businesses will get the message.