Various rumors about the Target chain of retail stores (see below).
FALSE: The Target Corporation does not contribute to veterans' causes. FALSE: The Target Corporation is French-owned. FALSE: The Target Corporation is Muslim-controlled. FALSE: The Target Corporation provides corporate grants only for 'gay and lesbian causes.' FALSE: The Target Corporation does not contribute to the U.S. Marine Corps' 'Toys for Tots' program. TRUE: The Target Corporation does not allow Salvation Army bellringers to solicit contributions in front of its stores. FALSE: The Target Corporation does not allow reservists called to active duty to continue their health benefits. Examples: [Collected via e-mail, November 2002] TARGET STORES DO NOT SUPPORT VETERANS!!! Subject: Vietnam vets not worthy? 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 on to as many people as you know. Maybe Target and other businesses will get the message. [Collected via e-mail, June 2013] TARGET STORES ARE NOT YET IN CANADA, HOWEVER THEY ARE SLATED TO OPEN A LOT OF STORES IN MARCH OR APRIL OF 2013.(they are here already) APPARENTLY THEY WILL BE TAKING OVER THE ZELLERS STORES. TARGET IS LOOKING FOR NEW AREAS AS THEY ARE GETTING A VERY BAD RECEPTION IN THE STATES MAINLY DUE TO THEIR NON-CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES. TARGET STORES HEAD OFFICE IS IN FRANCE. THE OFFICE IS NOW MUSLIM CONTROLLED WHICH EXPLAINS THE NON-CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE. WE SUPPORT THE GIANT TIGER, CANADIAN TIRE, HOME HARDWARE, ETC. THOSE WHICH ARE CANADIAN OWNED AND OPERATED. As Strother Martin's character wryly observed in the film Cool Hand Luke, 'What we've got here is failure to communicate.' Dick Forrey, a member of the Indiana-based Howard County Vietnam Veterans organization, rashly penned the above message in March 2002 after failing to secure a $100 sponsorship for a traveling Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall exhibit from his local Target store. Mr. Forrey was rebuffed, because Target does not give out cash donations through local stores; they donate money only at the corporate level, and only through grants to organizations falling within their defined general areas of giving. Mr. Forrey has since apologized for his mistake and issued a retraction: 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.Some people have used my words and perpetuated lies. It's sad that some of these people would use veterans as a way to push their own political views. I've sent out a retraction, and no one pays any attention. Target also explained their side of the story: 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. Guests can also access a grant application at our web site. 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.The Veterans of Foreign Wars would like to remind all that the Internet culture weaves rumors and misinformation. Simply put, don't believe everything you read. For example, an e-mail message urging veterans to boycott Target has been circulating on the Internet because a solicitation request to support 'The Moving Wall' was denied. Target has a long-held corporate policy regarding donations. And in all fairness, Target contributes more than $2 million weekly to charitable causes and is 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. The Target Corporation is a publicly held, U.S.-based firm which has been headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since it began as the Dayton Dry Goods Company in 1902. Target is not now, nor has it ever been, foreign-owned or Muslim-controlled. Like many public companies, the Target Corporation's stock is owned by thousands of institutional and mutual fund holders, none of whom controls more than 9% of the outstanding shares. Although Target stores do not directly participate in the in-store collection of toys for the Toys for Tots charity sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Target Corporation contributes to that charity by providing discounts to groups who buy toys for it. (Click here to view a video of singer Josh Groban engaging in a Christmas 2012 Toys for Tots buying spree at a Target store.) Target Corporation has been recognized by the National Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve (ESGR) as an 'Outstanding Employer' which has 'gone above and beyond the requirements of the law in support of their National Guard and Reserve employees.' Target employees who are activated for military service and were participating in optional dependent coverage at the time of their deployment are eligible to continue these benefits if they so choose. Target Corporation also allows any Target team member to continue benefits as provided by the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). In 2004 Target banned Salvation Army workers from soliciting contributions on its premises. See our 'Sally Ann Ban' article for details.
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