Target stores won't donate to Vietnam vet projects-Fiction!

Target Stores Won't Fund Veterans Projects-Fiction!

Target Stores are Owned by the French-Fiction!

Target Stores Won't Allow Collections for the Marine's Toys For Tots Campaigns-Fiction!

Target Stores Won't Allow Reservists Called for Active Duty to Maintain Insurance-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
There are different messages urging you to avoid buying anything at Target stores because the company turned down a request for funds for a Vietnam veterans memorial wall, is owned by the French, won't allow collections for Toys For Tots at Christmas, and won't give reservists call for active military duty continued health insurance coverage.

The Truth
This is quite an assault on Target stores and is becoming an example of how a rumor can mushroom and pick up momentum along the way.

It started with a man named Dick Forrey.
He is listed as being with Howard County Vietnam Veterans in the state of Indiana.
He says that he did have the experiences both with the local Target store and the Target corporate offices as is described in one of the stories and did originate an email expressing his displeasure.
It is not true, however, that Target categorically refuses to fund Veteran's projects and even Forrey is upset with how large this eRumor has spread.

The Target company is sending a written response to people who inquire about the Forrey story that says that Target gives $2 million per week in the communities where stores are located. The Target letter says a veteran (referring to Forrey) approached a local store in March, 2002 for a $100 donation to a "moving wall" project. The response says that any donations by local stores are not in cash but in gift certificates or volunteer time. Cash is given by the corporate office and in response to official requests for grants. The letter says that the veteran who asked for the donation should have been given grant information from the store, but was not. The Target response also says that the company makes donations in three general areas: education, arts and family violence prevention. The company is happy to donate to any veterans causes that would fit within those guidelines. So while it's true that donations would not be given to a veterans project per se, they would be given if the veterans project is within the guidelines.

Regarding Target's ownership, the company is on record as a U.S. firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and always has been.
There is no foreign ownership in its past or present that we've been able to find or been presented with evidence about.

Regarding benefits for reservists on active duty, this has been a big issue since so many reservists were called in for service in the Middle East and the National Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve has been a watchdog of companies and how they treat reservists.
They list target in the "Outstanding Employer" category which means it has "gone above and beyond the requirements of the law in support of their National Guard and Reserve employees."

So how did such a completely false email come into being?
It's easy to suspect a conspiracy or organized effort against Target but from our viewpoint this appears to have gotten started with the Dick Forrey letter and as others read it and got angry over it, they added other false charges in order to stack the deck.

Last updated 1/24/04

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Version # 1

GUNS SHOULD GO HOT ON THIS - - -

I was really shocked when I found out that the following statement was
made
when TARGET regional/local managers were approched to support US
VETERANS.
I am not really sure what can be done; however, without a change of
policy
from the TARGET CORPORATION, I REFUSE TO SHOP THERE ANY MORE. And, I
will
discourage anyone else from shopping there.

I was informed of this E-Mail by an Army LTC, and a Navy MASTER-CHIEF
[RETIRED - VietNam river boat VET] If the E-mail below is in error,
please
let me know. Both of these Veterans I consider extremely reliable.

V.Caine

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'

    Memorial 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 remembrance".



    As 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 only to as many people as you know.

    Maybe Target and other businesses will get the message.

Version # 2

Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud sponsor of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event.

We received the following reply from the local TARGET management:
"Veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the arts,
social action groups, gay &lesbian causes, and education."

So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and veterans in
general do not meet their donation criteria, then something is really
wrong at this TARGET store. We were not asking for thousands of dollars,
not even hundreds, just a small sponsorship for a memorial remembrance.

As a follow-up, I e-mailed the TARGET U.S. corporate headquarters and
their response was the same. That's their national policy.

Then I looked into the company further. They will not allow the Marines to
collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their stores. And during the recent
Iraq deployment, they would not allow families of employees who were
called up for active duty to continue their insurance coverage while they
were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGET is a French-owned
Corporation.

Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET can not support American Veterans, then
why should I and my family support their stores by spending our hard
earned American dollars and to have their profits sent to France. Without
the American Vets, where would France be today?

Feel free to pass this along to whomever you want