Target store above donation to Viet vets

[TCDiver1]

Take a look at this. Semper Fi, Gunner

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' Memorail 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 rememberance." As a 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.
(The Proud Warrior, newsletter of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines Network, Inc.)

Thought some of you would be interested in knowing Targets position on donating the money they make off us.

I'm all for the arts, social action (whatever the heck that means) and education but you would think they could have spared a dime to the people who protect and gave them the freedom to make the choice they did. What "area of giving" could be more important? What a bunch of corporate cow-dunk!

For my part, i will now make the choice of not giving Target anymore of my business. I encourage you to do the same.

 

[JamesK]

For someone to hold art above war veterans sickens me. To me there is a HUGE difference in helping someone who fought for our country, and helping someone who chooses not to get a real job and becomes an artist instead. I am completely against giving taxpayer money to the arts, so you can probably guess my feelings here.

If Target choose to use this policy, that is their choice. However, it is also my choice not to shop there.

Is there anyway to verify this accusation before I strike Target from my short list of retailers that I will do business with?

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Yet another reason to avoid their cheap merchandise, surly employees and rather smelly stores.

 

[Dryglove]

I definitely wont be shopping at target no more.Thats downright shameful.Obviously those in corporate headquarters have never had to fight for their country.

 

[TCDiver1]

JamesK once bubbled...

Is there anyway to verify this accusation before I strike Target from my short list of retailers that I will do business with?

I'll dig into it and let you know. The guy who e-mailed this to me is a retired Warrent Officer who is VERY reliable and very serious about Vet. issues. I trust him completely but will try to get verification of the post.

 

[jonnythan]

I can understand that you guys are pretty miffed about this, but... do you expect every large corporation to sponsor everything? That simply can't be done. They have to say no to some, if not most, things.

 

[JamesK]

Sure they can. I would not even be mad if they turned them down simply because they had run out of funds for the year. However, anyone who puts art above country personally disgusts me.

 

[Dryglove]

I have to agree big time with jamesk on this one.

 

[TCDiver1]

No joy on a quick net search. Have an e-mail in to my buddy and will get an answer. It may take some time but i will get it.

Jonnythan,

I hear what your saying but my read on this was Target has the money to give but has decided this was not a cause worthy of their donation. If the original post is true, they have NOT included veterans affairs as one of their "areas of giving".

My guess is they have the money to give but choose not to. They have that right. We have the right to not patronize them if we don't agree with their position. Your call.

I have my own business and IMO you just don't say no to some requests for donation, regardless if your over your giving budget or not. This would have been one of them. And Target has beau-coup more money then my company.

 

[jonnythan]

gedunk once bubbled...
No joy on a quick net search. Have an e-mail in to my buddy and will get an answer. It may take some time but i will get it.

Jonnythan,

I hear what your saying but my read on this was Target has the money to give but has decided this was not a cause worthy of their donation. If the original post is true, they have NOT included veterans affairs as one of their "areas of giving".

My guess is they have the money to give but choose not to. They have that right. We have the right to not patronize them if we don't agree with their position. Your call.

I have my own business and IMO you just don't say no to some requests for donation, regardless if your over your giving budget or not. This would have been one of them. And Target has beau-coup more money then my company.

I agree that "art above country" would be pretty reprehensible, but I'm not sure we have the whole picture here. I'm sure a lot of veterans events could fall under "social actions" or even "education." The original post stated that no money was asked for, simply "endorsement." Perhaps those in charge of this at Target simply didn't know anything about what was going on (or, to be more sinister, maybe the did) and didn't wish to put their name behind it. Maybe the group in question has a history of causing controversey that Target is trying to avoid. Perhaps Target simply doesn't want its name freely attached to something, I don't know.

The point is that this post can't possibly give us the entire story, and that the notice, if it's even true, should absolutely not be interpreted to mean "Target has a policy of not sponsoring any veteran associated events."

Maybe someone here should call Target directly and ask if they have this sort of policy. I think it's premature to boycott Target because they said no to one guy doing one event for reasons we simply don't know. That letter sounds like a diplomatic "no" that could easily have other reasons behind it. Don't jump the gun. If you're really concerned about the action, contact Target yourself and do a little research.