BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 26, 2007 – On the heels of last season’s record-setting Red Kettle Campaign – in which $30 million was raised for The Salvation Army in red kettles outside Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations – the nation’s largest retailer announces today its continued support for the nonprofit organization this holiday season. This year, in addition to inviting red kettles back in front of its stores, Wal-Mart is hosting a flurry of other holiday activities aimed at raising even more money for those in need. These include:
• Bells Ringing Across America – For the second year, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club associates are participating in the retailer’s “Bells Ringing Across America” event. On Nov. 27, from 11:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. EST, associates at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs nationwide will ring bells outside of their respective location. In select markets, local celebrities, elected officials and media personalities will be on hand to help spread Christmas cheer. Simultaneously, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, Kellogg Company President and CEO David Mackay and The Salvation Army’s National Commander Israel Gaither will ring bells outside the Wal-Mart store in Battle Creek, Mich. During this time, Scott will present The Salvation Army with a $1 million check on behalf of the Wal-Mart Foundation. Additionally, Rayovac Batteries will launch its “Keep it Ringing” cross-country bell-ringing program benefiting The Salvation Army from Battle Creek on Nov. 27, and will present $250,000 to the organization. Red kettles will be outside Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations from Nov. 23 through Christmas Eve, and customers can also make contributions to The Salvation Army through Wal-Mart’s online kettle, which can be accessed at
www.walmart.com and
www.samsclub.com.
• Christmas Carol Concert – Wal-Mart and The Salvation Army will air a Christmas Carol Concert on the retailer’s in-store TV network nationwide. The special – which will broadcast on Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m. in all time zones – features performances by The Salvation Army’s New York Staff Brass Band and the Wal-Mart choir, and a holiday message from renowned Pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life.”
• Sam’s Club Dream Drive – In partnership with the Off the Field Players Wives Association, Sam’s Club will provide up to $50,000 worth of merchandise and food for Salvation Army families enrolled in the charity’s Adopt a Family Program. Professional and legendary football players’ wives will shop for the families at participating Sam’s Club locations on Dec. 6 in Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver and San Diego.
• Salvation Army Brass Band Concerts – The Salvation Army’s local Brass Bands will perform special concerts at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations across the country throughout the holiday season.
“Our associates and customers, who are some of the most generous in the nation, have provided tremendous support to The Salvation Army over the years,” said Scott. “We consider the organization to be one of our closest, most important partners, and all of us at Wal-Mart are looking forward to the sound of bells ringing at our stores and Clubs once again this season.”
"Wal-Mart’s ongoing partnership with The Salvation Army is an invaluable support to our organization, and therefore, to those individuals and families that we serve at Christmas-time and year-round," said Gaither. "Without their support during times of crisis or during our most important fundraiser of the year - the Christmas Red Kettle Campaign - it would be difficult to serve the millions of people in need as we do all year long."
In April, The Salvation Army presented Wal-Mart with its Evangeline Booth Award for excellence in corporate philanthropy. Donations made to The Salvation Army through stores and clubs will stay local and go directly toward helping those in need, right in their own neighborhoods.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at
www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) 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 in the United States. To learn more, visit
www.walmartfacts.com,
www.walmartstores.com, or
www.walmartfoundation.org.