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Is This True about Target
Stores?
This is a letter that has been sent to me by a World War 2 Veteran.
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Go back to the Veterans Index.
| From the Webmaster. I would like to thank Mr. Jim Strickland for straightening this out. I receive all kinds of letters from Veterans that tell me about where our country is heading and how government and corporations are destroying our basic morals. Sometimes I publish the articles and sometimes I don't. Is the Target story true, this is why I put on the heading above "Is this true about Target Stores?" because I want your answers. This is why Mr. Strickland sent me this letter and I would like to thank him again. If you receive any emails that talk about the Target Store, read the letter below. |
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Jeff, This is just one of those d - - - - d urban legends circulating the net. The only truth is that original author Dick Forrey, did (5 years ago in 2002) ask a local Target Store for a cash donation and was refused because local stores cannot contribute cash, only gift cards. He admits he never applied to Corporate HQ. Target was a National Sponsor of "The Wall that Heals", the same exhibit for which Forrey was requesting a local donation. The "letter" has been added to at about every stop by people that need to get a life, this 2007 version bears little resemblance to Mr. Forrey's original letter. Mr. Dyrek should never have published it and most especially not commented on it until he authenticated it. It degrades the entire site. IMHO he should publish a retraction and include what Target actually does to support Veterans. Target is NOT a French owned company. Target is as American as Apple pie and Ice Cream, founded in 1902 as Dayton Dry Goods Company it is now publicly traded on New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: TGT) and owns the Marshall-Field chain, the Mervyn's chain, the Rivertown Trading Company and Associated Merchandising Corporation. Although the Target discount chain was started in 1962 the name was not changed to the Target Corporation until 2000. For the Target history see Target Story (A French-based financial institution, AXA, does now hold about 42 million shares of Target stock, but that holding constitutes less than 5% of Target Corporation's outstanding shares. Such shares were purchased on the open market just as you or I could.) Because of Legal reasons (blame the shyster lawyers for this), Target does not participate in the in-store collection of toys for the USMC's Toys for Tots campaign, however, their subsidiary Marshall Field is one of the national sponsors. Not only did Target sponsor the 2003 tour of "The Wall that Heals" — the same exhibit for which Forrey was soliciting donations — but it also donated to World War II Memorial, the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliaries. I cannot comment on the continuation of insurance benefits for employees called to active duty (this is a new addition to the rumor) but I doubt its factuality since Target is one of the corporations paying their employees the difference between their military pay and their civilian pay while they are on active duty. The first paragraph (the original letter was in paragraphs not the one run-on paragraph like the one now circulating) represents either a misunderstanding on the part of the author or a misinformed employee or both. Large outfits such as Target must have procedures and controls over their charitable gifts, otherwise they could easily donate themselves right out of business.
Target also explained their side of the story:"I made a mistake on this one, and I've learned a hard lesson — that's for sure. What started out as a message for the members in our organization has turned into a hate-type thing. I never wanted to start any national boycott. I just wish it would all stop. "We want to clearly and completely apologize for any misunderstanding regarding Target's support of the Vietnam Wall and our corporate giving program. Giving back to the communities where our stores are located is something we're proud to do. In fact, nationwide, Target Corporation gives more than $2 million a week to the communities in which we serve. In March of 2002, a veteran approached one of our stores seeking a $100 donation for a display of the "moving wall" in his area. Target does support events in the communities in which our stores are located. While each store determines which events to sponsor, any contribution is limited and is made in the form of a gift card. The stores are not able to give cash contributions to any organization. Stores are also able to donate volunteer hours to community events and projects. Our corporate giving program that does incorporate cash donations is handled through a process called grants. Unfortunately, the veteran and his organization were not provided the proper information to facilitate consideration of a grant from either the store or our corporate office. The initial response of the team member at the store and the reply from our corporate office are inconsistent with the respectful manner in which we want all of our guests to be treated. We are truly sorry for this oversight and the resulting confusion that has taken place. We accept all applications for grants from January 1 to September 30 of each calendar year. Any guest can request a grants application brochure at their local store, called "Grant Guidelines." Veterans programs may be considered for grants if the subject matter falls into one of our three general areas of giving: education, arts and family violence prevention. This is certain: Target appreciates the dedication and service of all our veterans. Thank you again for your interest." In fact, the Target Corporation donates a tremendous amount of money to charitable causes every year, and in both 2002 and 2003 they topped Forbes magazine's list of "America's Most Philanthropic Companies." Among the many organizations to which Target donates are veteran-related causes, including exhibits like the one for which Mr. Forrey was seeking a contribution: In the Greater Cleveland area alone, Target has recently donated more than $95,000 to such worthwhile causes as the Museum of Art, the Rape Crisis Center, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Cleveland Reads literacy program. The company has been no less generous toward veterans. Not only did Target contribute to the World War II Memorial and sponsor the 2003 tour of "The Wall that Heals" — the same exhibit for which Forrey was soliciting donations — but it also donated to the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association in New York, the Hays County veterans in Texas, and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliaries in Michigan and California. As the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) noted on their website: "Although there has been a resurgence of patriotism and support for our nation’s veterans, there have been various messages posted on the Internet that would lead people to believe that corporate America, specifically retail department stores, are falling short in supporting our nation's veterans. Target has a long-held corporate policy regarding donations. And in all fairness, Target contributes more than $2 million weekly to charitable causes and was one of the corporate sponsors for the 2003 tour of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund's "The Wall That Heals." "The Wall That Heals" is a traveling Vietnam Veterans memorial and museum that has a strong educational component for schools and serves to honor all our veterans. Since the anti-Target message first began to circulate, several other claims have been tacked onto it by those seeking to make Target look bad: that Target responds to charitable requests by stating they only support 'gay and lesbian causes,' that Target is French-owned, and that Target does not contribute to the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps, and that Target refused to allow reservist employees who had been activated to continue their health benefits: Target's stated policy is that they provide grants at the corporate level for programs involving the arts, education, and family violence prevention, and donates at the local level to a variety of charitable causes. The line about Target's responding to inquiries by stating that they provide corporate grants only for 'gay and lesbian causes' is a falsity added to later versions of the message. Check out what the Veterans of Foreign Wars has to say at http://www.vfw.org/news/target.htm Unlike the urban legend, everything I say above can be verified with a little research. It is my thought that they have done enough to deserve the support of veterans, their families and those of us that support our military. Because of their lopsided contributions to racist and gun control organizations the two that I boycott are Penny's and K-Mart. JMS Jessie H.Riggs Jr. wrote:
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This is the letter below that was sent to me
from a United States Veteran. |
| All about Target Stores From Dick Forrey. (You need to read this) Wasn't it last Christmas that Target refused to let the Salvation Army ring their bells in front of their stores? Dick Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association wrote: "Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event we received the following reply from the local TARGET management: "Veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the arts, social action groups, gay & lesbian causes, and education." So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and veterans in general, do not meet their donation criteria, then something is really wrong at this TARGET store. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds, just a small sponsorship for a memorial remembrance." As a follow-up, I E-mailed the TARGET U.S. Corporate Headquarters and their response was the same. That's their national policy. Then I looked into the company further. They will not allow the Marines to collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their stores. And during the recent Iraq deployment, they would not allow families of employees who were called up for active duty to continue their insurance coverage while they were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGET is a French-owned corporation. Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET cannot support American Veterans, then why should my family and I support their stores by spending our hard earned American dollars! And, have their profits sent to France. Without the American Vets, where would France be today? "They, most likely would be speaking German and trading in Deutsche Marks" " Sincerely, Dick Forrey, Veterans Helping Veterans Please send this on to everyone you know to let Target know what we think of Target. |
| Below are my comments and I retract the statement about Target stores putting others above the Veterans, but still read the rest of the letter because it's true and has nothing to do with Target Stores. Just look at the cross above the Korean War Veterans memorial in San Diego. The cross was placed there in 1954 and now some atheist doesn't like and it has to be torn down. Arlington Cemetery has millions of crosses above it's soldiers, will these be torn down too. This is what is happening to our country, step by step, inch by inch, we are being torn apart from within. I'm just wondering why our veterans and our churches don't have a lobby as powerful as the ACLU. The more I read, the more I see, and the more I travel, we are losing our country and I can see it happening. But it's going to happen, the fall of the American Empire. Then we will lose our new cars, our boats, motorcycles, houses, jobs and everything. When the Pledge of Allegiance was removed from the schools, our teaching of unity was lost and our country is drifting apart. Just wait and you will see the truth. C. Jeff Dyrek. |
Webmasters Comments. Dear Ken and Annette. |
