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Customers and associates contribute an additional $115 million through company-sponsored fundraisers - bringing total giving to more than $415 million
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) announced that in 2006 the company gave more than $300 million -- or $5.8 million per week -- to support its 6,700 world-wide communities. Global donations last year reflected a $30 million increase over 2005. In addition to the philanthropic support provided by the company, Wal- Mart's customers and associates donated more than $115 million in individual contributions through company-sponsored fundraisers. Overall, Wal-Mart contributed more than $415 million to charitable organizations at the local, national and global levels last year.
"As our company has continued to grow, so have the dollars we've given to support our local communities," said Ray Bracy, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. "We are glad to be in a position to make a real difference -- not just through our own corporate donations, but also by encouraging others to give. The generosity of our customers and associates has shown no end, and neither will our commitment to them."
Corporate giving at Wal-Mart is governed by a philosophy that was instituted by the company's founder, the late Sam Walton: operate globally and give back locally. The majority of the company's giving occurs at the local level as each Wal-Mart and Sam's Club location is empowered to support the issues and causes that are important to their neighborhoods. This grassroots style of philanthropy encompasses the small things, such as sponsoring a local sports team, and the big things, like funding college scholarships, helping The Salvation Army raise more than $30 million through its Red Kettle campaign, and assisting emergency responders in times of disaster.
America's Largest Corporate Cash Contributor
Last year Wal-Mart was recognized by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest corporate cash contributor in America. In 2006, Wal-Mart gave more than $270 million to support its 4,000-plus U.S.-based communities. Charitable contributions from Wal-Mart support a variety of causes and issues in the areas of education, the environment, health and human services, civic and community groups, and culture and the arts. (Editor's Note: For a breakdown of donations by state, please see the final two pages of this release.)

  Examples of giving at the U.S.-level include:

   -- The National Teacher of the Year program provided $4.9 million to
      schools across the country and honored top teachers. Since its
      inception in 1995, Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program has
      recognized more than 25,000 teachers nationwide. Overall, Wal-Mart
      contributed more than $57 million in support of educational
      initiatives in 2006.
   -- Children's Miracle Network, a national organization that aids
      children's hospitals across the country, is one of the most
      significant recipients of Wal-Mart giving. In 2006, it is estimated
      that the company and its customers provided nearly $34 million in
      support of CMN, including $6 million from Wal-Mart Canada.
   -- The Salvation Army has a long-standing relationship with Wal-Mart, and
      in 2006, Wal-Mart demonstrated its support for the organization's Red
      Kettle Campaign by once again allowing the volunteer bell-ringers in
      front of stores and clubs.  Donations collected in Red Kettles at
      Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations reached an all-time high of
      $30.4 million, accounting for 25 percent of all donations to Red
      Kettle campaign. In 2006, the company hosted "Bells Ringing Across
      America," a nationwide event that featured associates ringing the
      bells in front of stores and clubs nationwide to encourage donations.
      Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott launched the event from a store in Bentonville,
      Ark., where he announced a $1.25 million contribution from the Wal-
      Mart and Sam's Club Foundation to the annual campaign.
   -- The United Way of America and Wal-Mart have had a partnership for
      nearly 20 years. In 2006, Wal-Mart associates gave nearly $10 million
      to support the United Way's programs, which like Wal-Mart giving, are
      focused on helping people in their own communities. In response, the
      company provided a dollar-for-dollar match bringing total United Way
      giving last year to nearly $20 million.
   -- Wal-Mart donated $5 million to America's Second Harvest -- The
      Nation's Food Bank Network and developed a partnership to increase
      awareness of hunger in America. Through customer donations at Wal-Mart
      and Sam's Club locations nationwide, an additional $3.7 million was
      raised to purchase and distribute protein-rich foods to individuals in
      need through America's Second Harvest member food banks.
   -- When disaster strikes, Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations can be
      counted on to work with disaster relief agencies, supporting their
      lifesaving work and helping communities to begin the recovery effort.
      In 2006, Wal-Mart donated nearly $2 million in cash and products to
      support 75 disaster relief operations in 35 states, including $425,000
      to respond to the devastating floods in the Northeast U.S. in June
      2006.
   -- Wal-Mart partnered with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational
      organization behind Sesame Street, and provided $1.5 million to
      develop an outreach project aimed at helping children of military
      personnel deal with the challenges of deployment. The company also
      gave $500,000 in toys and gifts to military families with loved ones
      deployed overseas through its "Operation Christmas" initiative in
      partnership with Operation Homefront.
   -- Wal-Mart also donated $1 million or more to numerous charitable
      organizations, including, but not limited to, the American Cancer
      Society, the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Mercy Health
      System of Northwest Arkansas, the MLK Memorial Fund, the National Fish
      and Wildlife Foundation, the National Urban League, Northwest Arkansas
      Community College, and the Special Olympics.

Gifts of Time
Volunteering is also a key component of Wal-Mart's corporate giving philosophy. Associates are strongly encouraged to become involved in organizations that make a positive difference in the local quality of life, and Wal-Mart gives grants to qualifying organizations in recognition of associate volunteer hours. Last year, associates donated more than 1 million volunteer hours resulting in $5 million in grants to the organizations supported through volunteer efforts.
Charitable organizations interested in receiving support from the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Foundation are advised to visit their local Wal-Mart store, Neighborhood Market or Sam's Club location.

                           2006 Giving Overview

  State                  Total Contributed     Total Contributed and Raised
                    (Cash + In-Kind Donations)
  U.S.                    $272,908,303                $373,207,520
  International            $28,895,890                 $45,120,807
  TOTAL                   $301,804,193                $418,328,327


                        2006 State-By-State Giving

  State                  Total Contributed     Total Contributed and Raised
                    (Cash + In-Kind Donations)

  Alaska                      $540,152                    $745,976
  Alabama                   $5,197,534                  $7,474,075
  Arkansas                 $37,016,824                 $40,490,184
  Arizona                   $5,697,993                  $7,421,649
  California               $11,943,210                 $16,498,679
  Colorado                  $4,079,430                  $5,462,567
  Connecticut               $1,731,610                  $2,525,440
  Delaware                    $556,395                    $758,084
  Florida                  $12,798,091                 $19,099,648
  Georgia                  $10,497,010                 $14,370,016
  Hawaii                      $599,445                    $978,090
  Iowa                      $2,979,417                  $4,584,756
  Idaho                     $1,000,295                  $1,473,432
  Illinois                 $13,677,585                 $17,474,597
  Indiana                   $5,719,437                  $8,790,502
  Kansas                    $3,040,186                  $4,478,785
  Kentucky                  $4,714,789                  $7,107,530
  Louisiana                 $5,542,923                  $7,761,813
  Massachusetts             $1,884,434                  $3,443,705
  Maryland                  $2,587,244                  $3,735,068
  Maine                     $1,134,723                  $1,999,636
  Michigan                  $4,452,562                  $6,887,484
  Minnesota                 $3,514,548                  $4,898,341
  Missouri                  $8,686,403                 $11,903,116
  Mississippi               $3,305,916                  $4,803,284
  Montana                     $864,472                  $1,316,653
  North Carolina            $6,920,515                 $10,413,977
  North Dakota                $617,239                    $963,086
  Nebraska                  $1,827,771                  $2,644,234
  New Hampshire             $1,376,182                  $2,227,989
  New Jersey                $4,032,009                  $5,010,922
  New Mexico                $1,967,355                  $2,867,628
  Nevada                    $1,845,561                  $2,596,194
  New York                  $8,705,328                 $11,719,718
  Ohio                      $7,432,938                 $11,112,684
  Oklahoma                  $4,873,464                  $7,161,208
  Oregon                    $2,560,427                  $3,183,491
  Pennsylvania              $8,617,768                 $13,087,887
  Puerto Rico               $2,011,226                  $2,923,325
  Rhode Island                $424,312                    $762,483
  South Carolina            $3,270,182                  $5,646,650
  South Dakota                $733,490                  $1,230,320
  Tennessee                 $8,399,010                 $11,257,109
  Texas                    $25,649,707                 $35,232,282
  Utah                      $2,667,781                  $3,684,217
  Virginia                 $16,034,210                 $18,880,892
  Vermont                     $181,438                    $515,038
  Washington                $2,480,650                  $3,470,818
  Wisconsin                 $4,102,602                  $6,378,317
  West Virginia             $1,803,506                  $2,854,763
  Wyoming                     $610,998                    $899,172
  U.S. TOTAL              $272,908,301                $373,207,518

   * Totals may not match due to rounding differences.

Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Web site:
http://www.walmartstores.com/
http://www.walmartfacts.com/
http://www.walmartfoundation.org/
http://www.walmart.com/

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