WAL-MART GIVES $20,000 TO PASCO COUNTY TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN

Organization to use funds to help local students attend college

Land O’Lakes, Fla. -- Today, Wal-Mart presented a $20,000 check to Pasco County Take Stock in Children.  The donation, which will be used to help seven Pasco County students attend college, was given during a ceremony at the Land O’Lakes store, located at 21703 Village Lakes Shp/Ctr. The ceremony was attended by Florida Representative Will Weatherford and Chip Wichmanowski, executive director of Take Stock in Children.

“We are very appreciative of Wal-Mart’s donation and excited to be able to provide seven more scholarships to low-income students who may not have had the opportunity to attend college,” said Wichmanowski. “We believe that investing early in a child’s education is one of the keys to a successful future.”

The Take Stock in Children program provides an opportunity for students to make an early commitment for post secondary education. The organization has a proven record of helping low-income children stay out of trouble, graduate from high school, attend college, and become productive citizens.

“Support from local businesses, like Wal-Mart, can make a big difference in the lives of our youth,” continued Wichmanowski. “By granting a scholarship to students as early as in sixth grade, we can set the path for their future success and make sure they stay on track to complete high school and achieve their goals.” 

The Take Stock program provides four-year scholarships to deserving low-income youth who are at risk of not going to college because of their families' financial situation. Seventh-grade students with good grades, good attendance, and good discipline records are invited to apply for these scholarships. Each student who is selected by the executive committee of the Foundation signs a contract, along with his or her parent and school principal, promising to maintain a good school record and to remain drug and crime free.

"Today's gift from Wal-Mart to Pasco County Take Stock in Children will greatly benefit the young people in this community," said Florida Representative Will Weatherford. "Now with Wal-Mart's support, more students will be able to attend college and have the opportunity to continue their education."

Wal-Mart is committed to operating globally and giving back locally. The philosophy is to make the greatest impact on communities by supporting causes that are important to their customers in their own neighborhoods. Wal-Mart strives to be a “store of the community” for all of the communities it serves by helping to provide financial and volunteer support to more than 100,000 charitable and community-focused organizations, and by utilizing stores to provide opportunities for our customers and associates to give back.  In Florida, that resulted in more than $19 million given back to local communities in 2006.

"Wal-Mart is honored to present this donation to Pasco County Take Stock in Children," said Quenta Vettel, senior manager of public affairs at Wal-Mart.  "This gift is going to help several local students reach their fullest potential and we could not be more proud to be affiliated with this organization and its inspiring mission."

About Wal- Mart:: Every week, more than 127 million 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, and more than $19 million right here in Florida. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.

Take Stock in Children  firmly believes that the future begins with supporting our children's education. Take Stock in Children provides scholarships, mentors, and hope for a better future to Florida's most deserving children. A public-private partnership, this nonprofit organization has positively affected the lives of more than 11,000 children. For the past decade, Take Stock in Children has provided scholarships, mentors and hope to Florida's low-income, at-risk children. Corporate sponsors, government leaders, the Florida Legislature, individual donors and devoted volunteers are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to Florida's most underserved students. For more information, visit www.pascoeducationfoundation.org.