Welcome the Salvation Army Back to Stores and Clubs Across America
BENTONVILLE, AR, NOV. 17, 2006 – Glad tidings, jingling bells and red kettles. What do these things have in common? That’s right – all are signs that Christmas is just around the corner. And all will once again be fixtures at more than 3,900 Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and Neighborhood Markets across the country this holiday season. Wal-Mart is keeping alive the 20-plus year tradition of rolling out the red carpet for The Salvation Army’s bell ringers, who will collect donations for the annual Red Kettle Campaign in front of our stores and clubs from Nov. 24 through Christmas Eve.
In addition, on Nov. 28, from 12-12:30 p.m. CST, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club associates will celebrate the company’s support of The Salvation Army by participating in a “Bells Ringing Across America” event. During this time, associates will staff the Red Kettles at every store and club nationwide, ringing the bells and inviting customers to support the annual campaign.
“Last year, The Salvation Army collected more than $26 million on our front doorsteps – accounting for nearly 25 percent of the total contributions to the Red Kettle campaign,” said Lee Scott, chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “I am proud of our customers and associates for the generosity they have shown and personally look forward to hearing those bells ringing at our stores and clubs again this year.”
Scott will lead the kick off of the “Bells Ringing Across America” celebration with a $1 million donation from the Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Foundation. He will be joined for the bell-ringing and check presentation by Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army, at the Red Kettle in front of the Bentonville Wal-Mart store. Additionally, the Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Foundation will contribute an extra $250,000 through the company’s online Red Kettle, which will be accessible from www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com beginning Nov. 27.
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“We are grateful for Wal-Mart’s continued support of The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Christmas Campaign,” said Major Hood. “The Bells Ringing Across America event is a great way to highlight the importance of our fundraising efforts to help serve those in need in local communities nationwide."
Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club are committed to helping communities in need, and look forward to continuing to work with The Salvation Army. Donations made to The Salvation Army through stores and clubs will go directly toward helping those in need, right in their own neighborhoods.
About Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 176 million customers visit Wal-Mart stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam’s Clubs or a subsidiary location in 15 countries around the world. In each of the countries where Wal-Mart operates, the company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. Wal-Mart is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to these local communities. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmart.com or www.walmartfoundation.org.