Funds Assist Impacted Residents and Communities Throughout Louisiana
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(NYSE: WMT) announced today that the remainder of the $8.5 million raised
through in-store contributions by customers and associates will be donated to
11 organizations in Louisiana communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The
donations were collected in 3,800 Wal-Mart stores and SAM'S CLUBs from
September through October 2005. Last fall, $6 million from the original
donations were provided to various relief and rebuilding efforts to assist
with immediate needs in the impacted areas.
"We are so proud of our associates and our customers for their generosity
and compassion. These funds will touch the lives of thousands of families who
have been through so much this past year," said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice
president of corporate affairs and executive director of the Wal-Mart and
SAM'S CLUB Foundation. "Wal-Mart remains committed to helping the people of
the Gulf Coast region restore their lives and communities."
During a series of local events, Wal-Mart will make donations ranging from
$50,000 to $500,000 to the following organizations:
* Greater New Orleans, Inc., New Orleans -- $50,000
* Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Baton Rouge -- $50,000
* Cameron Parish Police Jury, Jennings -- $100,000
* Northshore Pelican Foundation, Covington -- $100,000
* Project Rebuild Plaquemines, Belle Chasse -- $100,000
* St. Bernard Parish Hurricane Relief Fund, St. Bernard Parish --
$100,000
* Thomas Jefferson Relief Fund, Marrero -- $250,000
* United Way Lake Charles, Lake Charles -- $250,000
* America's New Orleans Fund, New Orleans -- $500,000
* Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge -- $500,000
* Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc., Baton Rouge -- $500,000
The funds will help rebuild Louisiana and provide displaced residents with
shelter, food and clothing, as well as medical attention, telephone and
computer access and grief counseling. Organizations will also be able to use
some of the funds for their own grant-giving programs that support local
rebuilding efforts.
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Wal-Mart led the
corporate drive to assist in relief efforts. The company helped set up
donation centers by providing its vacant facilities for use as evacuee
shelters, supply depots and food pantries. In addition, the company opened a
"tent" store in Waveland, Miss., one of the hardest hit towns in the region.
The 16,000 square foot tent offered residents "survival products," such as
toiletries and food, as well as a Connection Center for cell phones and a
Kodak digital kiosk to assist in finding missing family and friends. In
November, the company re-opened the store as a "Wal-Mart Express," a new
concept store for disaster impacted areas.
These recent contributions are in addition to the more than $18 million in
cash and $3.5 million of merchandise donated to shelters and command centers
throughout Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
More information about Wal-Mart's hurricane relief efforts, charitable
giving and other programs can be found at http://www.walmartfacts.com or
http://www.walmartfoundation.org .
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood
Markets and SAM'S 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 company's securities are
listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT.
Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com .
SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
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Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010831/WALMARTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Related links:
http://www.walmartstores.com
http://www.walmartfacts.com
http://www.walmartfoundation.org http://www.walmart.com
CONTACT:
Bob McAdam of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
+1-479-273-4314
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