Wal-Mart Surpasses $300 Million Raised for
Children’s Miracle Network
Customers to see “Miracle Months” now in progress at Wal-Mart stores
and SAM’S CLUB locations nationwide
Salt Lake City, April 15, 2005 – At the start of its annual “Miracle Months” fund-raising efforts lasting April through June, Children’s Miracle Network announced today that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has reached an incredible milestone in the organization’s history – donating and raising more than $300 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in 18 years. Donations made to Children’s Miracle Network directly benefit 170 children’s hospitals today. Participation by Wal-Mart this year has grown to 3,700 Wal-Mart stores, SAM’S CLUB locations, Neighborhood Markets and Distribution Centers, providing a very large support base for many local children’s hospitals.
“Wal-Mart’s associate-based fund raising is unprecedented,” said Mick Shannon, co-founder of Children’s Miracle Network. “In addition to contributions made through the Wal-Mart & SAM’S CLUB Foundation, associates nationwide band together every year to carry out grassroots fund-raising efforts at their locations to help local children’s hospitals – and they engage customers and community to take part. It’s a unique approach that works extremely well.”
Through bake sales, softball and golf tournaments, fashion shows and other activities during ‘Miracle Months,” including the popular purchase of Children’s Miracle Network balloons at store registers, Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB efforts have helped fund new medical services, as well as life-saving research into childhood diseases such as pediatric cancer, cystic fibrosis and pediatric AIDS.
“Wal-Mart associates have a strong commitment to give back and help others,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice president of Wal-Mart Corporate Affairs. “One hundred percent of the dollars raised for Children’s Miracle Network stays within the communities where funds are donated, which is in step with our philosophy of giving back locally. It is our customers and associates who help make miracles possible each year for the children at these hospitals.”
Following are a few examples of new hospital services supported through Wal-Mart fund-raisers:
- A newborn intensive care unit ambulance to transport the most critically ill infants to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
- A Wal-Mart safety corner, where children learn about the importance of safety, at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill.
- The “Angel One” helicopter used to transport the most serious patients from outlying areas to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark.
- A neonatal intensive care unit for the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital in Charleston, S.C.
- A Breathmobile (traveling asthma clinic) to help children at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
In Phoenix the number of children with asthma is quite large because of high levels of pollen, airborne particulates and other social and environmental factors. “The Breathmobile brings an asthma clinic directly to children in their schools to aid in the management of these factors and helps kids get control of this disease,” said Robert Meyer, President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Meyer explained the results of this program have shown significant improvement in the lives of area children. “We would not be able to provide this valuable service without the great support of Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB associates,” he added.
“With more than a million Wal-Mart Stores associates nationwide serving 138 million customers per week, the ability to help thousands of children through their efforts is quite amazing,” added Shannon, “even just collecting donations through the purchase of balloons, one dollar at a time.”
About Children’s Miracle Network
Childrens Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Childrens Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to www.cmn.org.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
More information about Wal-Mart’s charitable giving per state and other causes and programs can be found at www.walmartfacts.com. Please contact your local Wal-Mart or SAM’S CLUB store for information about local stores and clubs. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAMS CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The companys securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
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