Walton Family Pledges $100 Million to Halve U.S. Maternal Deaths
Philanthropists Olivia and Tom Walton have announced a $100 million commitment over five years to the 'Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America' initiative. This significant investment aims to reduce the national maternal mortality rate by half. The funds will support state matching grants, strategic partnerships, and essential infrastructure to scale up proven maternal health interventions across the United States. Olivia Walton, founder of the initiative, emphasized the goal of making the U.S. the safest place globally to have a baby, highlighting the availability of evidence-based solutions that now require urgent investment and widespread access. The U.S. currently has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, with 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also indicates that nearly 86% of these maternal deaths are preventable. Arkansas, the Waltons' home state, faces particularly high infant and maternal mor...