Guilt, Giving, and Public Relations

During the spring of 2007, I was asked to give money at the checkout of our local Wal-Mart to help a Children's Hospital.  I declined.  Also, I asked "Will Wal-Mart report these donations as money they raised?" and the cashier honestly replied "Yes".

Sure enough, I find a story at Good PR For Walmart describing this fundraising effort.

Does Wal-Mart care about the children? Perhaps.

Is there a Public Relations motive for raising the money (as opposed to donating their own money?). Probably.