Anybody else hear this about Target????

[cslinger]

If this is true then no more shopping there for us.

from Dick Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association

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 can not support American Veterans,
then why should I and my family support their stores by spending our hard
earned American dollars and to have their profits sent to France. Without
the American Vets, where would France be today?
Feel free to pass this along to whomever you want.
Sincerely,
Dick Forrey
Veterans helping Veterans


Chris

 

[LifeNRA]

I have read this before but I think I read also that it was not true. I am sure someone here knows for sure. I guess someone could send them a copy and ask if it was true or not.

 

[cadfael]

Its an urban legend that makes the rounds on email every so often.

See Snopes Urban Legends

Adam

 

[dischord]

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

 

[pittspilot]

E-mail retracted.

Have to remember to go to snopes first.

 

[RocketMan]

Completely False

I am a salaried Target employee, working in a large distribution center. I received a company e-mail about this bogus item today, as it happens.

This particular item started when a local VVA unit (or similar organization, memory is failing) solicited a donation from a Target store. This request was turned down because Target always makes donations from the corporate level, not the store level.
The person making the solicitation was upset, and sent a message about this over the Internet to various people.
Unfortunately, the message was copied and significantly changed by others, altering the content and meaning of the original. It was then broadcast on the Web, starting this Urban Legend.

In fact, Target contributes to several military oriented charities, not the least of which is the "Wall of Healing", the smaller Vietnam Memorial Wall that tours the country.
(Target also contributes to a military aviation museum, which I found to be a pleasant surprise.)
Their total charitable contributions run about $2 million per week (Yes, $2 million per week) to various charities and causes around the country.

There is period every year when Target corporate will receive and consider requests for gifts from charitable organizations. Information about Target's charitable giving can be found on their website.

It is true that Target will not allow charitable solicitation on store properties. The only exception to this rule is the Salvation Army bell ringers you see outside the stores.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Then as I dig further, TARGET is a French-owned corporation.

Close, but no cigar...Target Corporation is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The corporation used to be called "Dayton Hudson" and owned Marshall Field's stores.

They changed the corporate name to Target and the Dayton's stores to Marshall Fields after the Dayton family finally purchased a senate seat for Democrat Mark Dayton in 2000. He spent $11 million + of his own money(some say clser to $20 million with soft money contributions) to beat Rod Grams, probably the last true conservative in the Senate.

Dayton's 2000 campaign spent more than Feinstein, Lieberman, Kennedy and 29 other 2000 senate campaigns. Only Hillary Clinton-NY and Jon Corzine-NJ spent more in 2000.

http://www.politicalfinance.com/Articles/012401.html

To keep this gun-related, I still have shotgun shell boxes with Target price tags. They used to sell ammunition, but stopped right around the time the Clintons came to power and the camel got the first hump into the tent.

 

[jamz]

Well that's a relief. I like Target.

 

[Shweboner]

Since were talking about retail stores for the moment, I'd like to enter a shameless plug for Sears.

Sears kept up benefits, and paid the difference in wages for employees who were deployed (ie, you make 1300/mo @ sears, army pays 1000/mo, sears will continue to pay the 300/mo difference) I thought that was pretty kick ??? for them to do.

~Brian

 

[answerguy]

Then as I dig further, TARGET is a French-owned

Funny! I'm sure the French connection (as it were) is from the French pronunciation that people give it when they are making fun of the store.

Tar-jhay