Minneapolis mega-retailer Target has pledged $10 million to social justice organizations such as the National Urban League and the African American Leadership Forum, as well as community rebuilding efforts, after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Across the country, cities including Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen both peaceful protests and looting and violence in response to Floyd's death, as well as calls for reform from around the world.
"Target stands with black families, communities and team members," said Target CEO Brian Cornell in a Friday statement. "As we face an inflection point in Minneapolis and across the country, we're listening to our team, guests and communities, committed to using our size, scale and resources to help heal and create lasting change."
In addition to the monetary donations, which will come from both the retailer and its foundation, Target has committed to provide 10,000 hours of pro bono consulting services for businesses owned by people of color within the Twin Cities as they rebuild after recent riots left some damaged.
By mid-June, nonprofits that support businesses owned by black and other entrepreneurs of color also will be able to apply for grants from the Target Foundation to help rebuild business storefronts that were damaged in the riots.
The company's loyalty program Target Circle will offer customers the option to direct Target funds to local nonprofits and organizations supporting social justice.
And Target has created an internal task force of senior company leaders to help analyze the company's "path forward."
"At this critical moment in our Twin Cities communities and across the country, we appreciate the solidarity Target has shown to help rebuild as well as be part of the necessary systems changes ahead of us," said Marcus Owens, executive director of the African American Leadership Forum in the Twin Cities.
Target employees have volunteered hundreds of hours toward cleanup efforts in heavily affected neighborhoods of the Twin Cities, and Target has partnered with local nonprofits such as Second Harvest Heartland to provide truckloads of donated essentials like baby formula, medicine and more in recent weeks.
Target — which has had a handful of its local stores damaged or looted in recent days — has reopened most of its stores in the Twin Cities area, including the St. Paul Midway store.
Its Lake Street store in Minneapolis, which was one of the first to be looted and damaged, is anticipated to reopen before the end of the year.
Before the George Floyd protests, Target and the Target Foundation announced $10 million in donations to support organizations helping with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495
Twitter: @nicolenorfleet
