Walmart Heirs Olivia and Tom Walton Pledge $100 Million to Halve U.S. Maternal Death Rate
Olivia and Tom Walton, heirs to the Walmart fortune, have committed an initial $100 million over five years through Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America (HMHBA) to significantly reduce the maternal mortality rate in the United States. The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, with nearly 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, and disproportionately affecting Black women. Olivia Walton, who founded HMHBA, stated that nearly 90% of maternal deaths are preventable and that solutions already exist. The investment aims to fund state-matching grants, partnerships, and infrastructure to get mothers into care earlier, extend postpartum support, and build family-centered care. HMHBA is also backing bipartisan legislation, including the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, co-sponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and the NIH IMPROVE Act.
