Walton group: ’16 grants tallied $454.4M

The Walton Family Foundation awarded $454.4 million in grants in 2016, according to an annual report released by the nonprofit earlier this week.

The foundation said $48.6 million — or nearly 11 percent of the total grants awarded — went to projects in the home region. The list of giving included $41.5 million in Northwest Arkansas grants, $6.5 million in the Delta region and $600,000 in Arkansas education grants.

The foundation also reported awarding $190.9 million in grants for kindergarten through 12th-grade education, $83.2 million on environment-related issues and $131.7 million for special projects.

The 2016 total was an increase from 2015, when the foundation awarded $374.7 million in grants.

“Three generations in, our family’s engagement is stronger and more strategic than ever,” said Carrie Walton Penner, who is chairman of the foundation’s board.