Walton Family Foundation Donates $10,000 to Ozarks Technical Community College

A new state-of the-art composter will be constructed on Ozarks Technical Community College’s  (OTC) Springfield campus thanks to a $10,000 donation from the Walton Family Foundation to the Campus Green Initiatives program. The gift was announced and presented by Mike Daw, president of Arvest Bank, Springfield, on behalf of the foundation.

The funds will help the Campus Green Initiatives program to:

• Provide a composter, capable of producing as much as two tons of compost a day;
• Work with local companies to compost and recycle waste; and
• Present a unique learning opportunity for students, teachers and the community.

 “We are so thankful to the Walton Family Foundation for helping us provide a place for the composter,” Dr. Shirley Lawler, OTC’s vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, said.  “The science faculty and those in turf and landscape management are very enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing the composter here.” 

“We are pleased to present this donation on behalf of the Walton Family Foundation to support OTC and their efforts to provide the community with a great option for recycling waste,” Daw said. “This donation is just one of many we have made throughout the area.  It demonstrates the foundation’s ongoing commitment to the conservation of our natural resources.” 

To see a video of the donation, including an interview with an Arvest Bank representative, visit http://www.otc.edu/news/video-newsletter.php

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation works to support initiatives that honor the values and principles of Sam and Helen Walton.  The Foundation seeks to provide funding to grantees who are actively working to create positive change for others. Major areas of focus include: K-12 education reform, economic development in the Delta Region of Arkansas and Mississippi, conservation of sensitive marine and freshwater environments, and enhancing the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.  For more information, go to www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org.