Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Celebrate Long-Standing Salvation Army Partnership with “Bells Ringing Across America” Event
BENTONVILLE, AR, NOV. 28, 2006 – Associates at more than 3,900 Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and Neighborhood Markets across the country today staffed the Red Kettles to celebrate the company’s 20-plus year tradition of rolling out the red carpet for The Salvation Army’s bell ringers.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. chief executive officer Lee Scott led 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 was 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 is accessible from www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.
“By raising millions of dollars with the help of our associates and customers, we’re also raising awareness of what The Salvation Army does and, perhaps most importantly, building hope for those individuals and families The Salvation Army helps,” Scott said. “Last year The Salvation Army collected more than $26 million on our front doorsteps alone, which accounted for nearly 25 percent of the season’s total contribution and we hope to raise even more this year.”
“Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club’s support over the decades has set a real precedent for giving,” Major Hood said. “The stores’ associates and customers have been a major source of funding that helps us support those most in need in communities nationwide.”
In addition to Bentonville, the celebration was brought to stores in Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. At each event, a Salvation Army official was present to accept a donation of $10,000 in gift cards to brighten Christmas for local underprivileged families.
The Salvation Army’s bell ringers will continue to collect donations for the annual Red Kettle Campaign in front of Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and Neighborhood Markets through Christmas Eve. All donations collected by The Salvation Army through stores and clubs will go directly to those in need in the neighborhood where collected.
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 13 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 local communities. To learn more, visit
www.walmartfacts.com,
www.walmart.com or
www.walmartfoundation.org.
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