Target Will End School Charity Program, Shift Giving Focus to Wellness

Target Corp. is ending a trademark giving program through which it has sent hundreds of millions of dollars to schools over nearly two decades.

The Minneapolis-based retailer began notifying schools on Monday that it will discontinue its “Take Charge of Education” program, through which the company donates 1 percent of Redcard holders’ purchase total to a school of their choice.

Over the last 18 years, Target has distributed more than $432 million to more than 100,000 schools across the U.S. through the initiative.

Target will terminate the program in May 2016 and shift its social responsibility focus from education to health and wellness, executives told the Star Tribune.