Target Corporation 

The Target Corporation is a very large retail business consisting of thousands of stores, each having goals to serve their respective communities. Target has established a market structure with three operating divisions. They include the discount stores division, with Target Stores and SuperTarget Stores; the middle-market division that includes Mervyn’s of California; and the third division representing the department stores, which are Dayton’s, Hudson’s and Marshall Field’s. (Target Homepage, October 15, 2000) 

The types of community programs these operating divisions support include community grants, programs for youth organizations, aid to foster children, and local school support with educational grants. Target Corporation is known for programs that assist families, the arts, and support for well known charitable organizations, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The American Red Cross. Target’s 1999 Annual Report states more than $67 million were donated to nonprofit organizations across the United States. Other programs support the environment using waste management and support for wildlife, both encourage community participation to help our planet. (Target Homepage, October 15, 2000) 

At the local level, the Target Stores support nonprofit organizations, which range from school programs, scholarships, parenting classes, art programs, and help hot lines that assist with preventing family violence. (Target Homepage, October 15, 2000) 

Target employees, also called team members, get involved in the community. Team members, from all over the nation, volunteer their time to help with more than 5,000 projects each year in their respective communities. The Target Earth Savers Program is designed for six through thirteen-year olds, to help them better understand nature and how they can help save our planet. Beginning in 1994, this program now has more than 450,000 kids participating in the program. The discount stores division has been very generous, giving weekly contributions of more than $1 million. (Target Homepage, October 15, 2000) 

Operating in the middle market division is Mervyn’s of California. Contributing at the local level, Mervyn’s purpose is to improve upon the quality of life for families and children. Mervyn’s gives grants for education that range from $500 to $5,000. Programs include Granting Dreams for Women and Children, designed to assist children with their homework, provide positive alternatives for kids after school, and visual and performance arts for the children. In addition, Mervyn’s Child Spree program has provided over 100,000 economically disadvantaged children with new clothes and backpacks filled with necessary school supplies. This program was started in 1993 and has committed over $8.5 million to helping disadvantaged children. (Target Homepage, October. 15, 2000) 

On the national level, Mervyn’s has helped over 3,000 women in 14 states with their Community Closet program. This program provides women that are going back to work, with a suitable work outfit. A 72-foot trailer was transformed into a mini Mervyn’s with a selection of clothes for women to help promote self-confidence as they re-enter the workforce. (Target Homepage, October 15, 2000) 

In the department stores division, Dayton’s provides annual Community Grants that go to programs such as Child Abuse Prevention and Youth Self-Sufficiency and Education. To encourage its employees to volunteer their time, Dayton’s stores contribute a $250 grant to the location helped and matches employee financial contributions up to $250 dollars. In 1998 team members, or store employees, contributed over $2 million dollars to help support the United Way. (Dayton Homepage, October 20, 2000) 

Another way that Dayton’s helps the community is through a wonderful program that was developed in 1994. The program was designed to aid children, entering into foster care, by providing a sense of security using a toy bear. In order to help make the transition less frightening, Dayton’s provides a P.J. Haggabee bear to these children in need. In addition, for every bear that customers purchase, Dayton contributes a P.J. Haggabee bear to a child in need. (Dayton Homepage, October 20, 2000) 

Amazingly, the above information only represents a portion of the total local and national programs supported by the Target Corporation. These programs are not a new venture for the Target Corporation, for more than 30 years Target has been giving back to the local and national communities. It is obvious that ethics and social responsibility are extremely important to Target.