Miss America 2008 helps promote annual fund-raising campaign
at stores and clubs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 1, 2008 – For many sick and injured children, the only place to get the specialized medical care they need is at a children’s hospital. To enable children’s hospitals to make the very best care available to the most children, Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs nationwide are once again partnering with the Children’s Miracle Network to raise funds and awareness for those hospitals and the work they do. The six-week fund-raising period at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs is currently underway, featuring sales of $1 paper balloons and special store-wide activities by associates. Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock is the beneficiary of the funds raised at stores and clubs in Arkansas.
Arkansas customers and associates have raised $17 million for Arkansas Children’s Hospital through Wal-Mart’s Children’s Miracle Network annual campaign since 1987. In 2007, the hospital was one of the top five in the nation for funds raised at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs.
(Editor’s Note: A special event is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at the Wal-Mart store and Sam’s Club on Bowman Blvd. in Little Rock featuring Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund, the 70-foot tall Children’s Miracle Network hot air balloon and a $1,000 shopping spree for the ACH Miracle Child. For details, please see the media advisory.)
“The health and safety of our children is so important,” said Mark Shelton, Wal-Mart Market Manager in Little Rock. “Wal-Mart has a long history of supporting Children’s Miracle Network and the work that they do to help the youngest and smallest people get well and stay healthy.”
For 21 years, Wal-Mart and Children’s Miracle Network have worked together to help the 170 hospitals in Children’s Miracle Network to provide state-of-the-art care, research and preventative care for children. “Through direct contributions and funds raised at our stores and clubs, Wal-Mart has contributed more than $430 million to Children’s Miracle Network since 1987,” said Kevin Rucker, Little Rock Market Manager for Sam’s Clubs. “That amount includes $39 million given in 2007 alone. We are very proud to be associated with this organization and hope to raise even more in 2008.
Children’s hospitals throughout the country treat an estimated 17 million children each year, children with illnesses and injuries of every kind. The familiar red and yellow striped paper balloons are available for purchase for $1 at registers at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs from April 21 through May 31
About Children’s Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network - the alliance of premier hospitals for children - is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's 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 Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and its foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the company supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability, and health and human services. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com/community.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Wal-Mart serves more than 176 million customers weekly in 14 markets. The company’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. For more information: www.walmartfacts.com.
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