[GCFL-discuss] Target

[gcfl-discuss at gcfl.net]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/target.asp

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Claims:   Multiple - see below.

Status:
The Target Corporation does not contribute to veterans' causes:   False.
The Target Corporation is French-owned:   False.
The Target Corporation provides corporate grants only for 'gay and lesbian
causes':   False.
The Target Corporation does not contribute to the U.S. Marines 'Toys for
Tots' program:   False.
The Target Corporation does not allow reservists called to active duty to
continue their health benefits:   False.
Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 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.


Origins:   As
Strother Martin's character wryly commented in 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, penned the above message in March 2002 after failing to secure
a $100 sponsorship for a travelling 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:

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.

Sincerely,

Daniel Cleland
Group Team Leader
Guest Relations

Granted, Target deserves a small share of criticism for initially failing to
explain their policies clearly to Mr. Forrey when he approached them,  but
the stance presented in the message quoted above - that a company which
won't financially contribute to someone's pet project doesn't "support"
whatever cause is being represented and should therefore be boycotted by all
like-minded people - is a selfish one, and in this case a grossly unfair
one. 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.
Dick Forrey, the man who started the anti-Target brouhaha, has since
admitted his mistake:

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.
Since the antiTarget 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 (which now also includes the Mervyn's and Marshall
Field's chains of department stores) is a publicly held U.S. firm which has
been based 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.

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, the Target Corporation contributes to that charity by giving
discounts to groups who buy toys for it, and through collecting toys at
their chain of Marshall Field's stores, one of the National Corporate
Sponsors of the Toys for Tots program.

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).
Last updated:   17 December 2003