11.06.2001 ET

(CSRwire) Saluting excellence in education, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT - news) and SAM'S CLUB associates have awarded an unprecedented $1.7 million this year in educational grants through the company's ''Good.Works.'' community involvement program. The grants have been awarded to 3,260 schools in all 50 states through the company's Teacher of the Year program.

In its fifth year of honoring outstanding teachers in local communities, Teacher of the Year is one of the largest teacher recognition programs in the country, according to Betsy Reithemeyer, Wal-Mart Foundation director. ''Education is a cornerstone commitment of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s 'Good.Works.' community involvement program,'' said Reithemeyer. ''Since its inception in 1996, the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year program has recognized nearly 11,000 teachers nationwide and contributed more than $6.6 million in educational grants to schools.''

Added Reithemeyer, ''This program exemplifies our associates' commitment to education and the value that excellent teachers deliver to our communities by positively impacting the lives of young people.''

This year, not only did each store select a local winner, but Wal-Mart Stores and SAM'S CLUBS also honored 50 state winners and -- for the first time -- honored one national winner as well. Local winners could apply for the state and national awards, and more than 700 applications were received from local winners around the country.

Mark Boen, a third-grade teacher in Fergus Falls, Minn., has been named the first national Teacher of the Year. A special recognition ceremony will honor Boen today at his school, McKinley Elementary. Members of the Fergus Falls community helped Boen win the top award for the annual program. Boen was nominated in Fergus Falls and selected by store associates as the local winner last spring. Then he was selected as the Minnesota state winner this summer by the Miss America organization, which served as the independent judging group. Finally, Boen was chosen this fall over other 700 other applicants for the national award, again by the Miss America Organization, which emphasized character education and community involvement in the selection process.

''We're delighted Mark has been chosen as the national winner and has brought such positive recognition to Fergus Falls and the state of Minnesota,'' said Gary Snyder, Fergus Falls store manager.

Boen is indeed an outstanding teacher, added Snyder. He is an accomplished and published author of three books focusing on teaching and education and believes the role of teachers is to celebrate effective students and prepare them not just for school, but also for life.

''Mark and the teaching staff at McKinley Elementary are committed to making a difference in the lives of our students,'' said Principal Jon Harris. ''It is a great honor for Mark -- and McKinley Elementary -- for him to be recognized as the 2001 national Teacher of the Year. We salute Wal-Mart associates for their commitment to education and to this community.''

The Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB ''Good.Works.'' program is unique in that it combines both financial and volunteer support from store associates in assisting organizations in making a positive difference. By encouraging a grassroots style of community involvement, store associates identify and support organizations that are improving the quality of life in their communities. In fact, last year Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB associates in Minnesota raised and contributed more than $2.4 million for local community organizations throughout the state.

In Minnesota alone, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates 52 Wal-Mart stores, Supercenters and SAM'S CLUBS and employs more than 14,000 associates. With annual sales of $191 billion, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,700 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 490 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. Internationally, the company operates more than 1,100 units. Last year Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed more than $190 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. FORTUNE magazine has named Wal-Mart the third ''most admired'' company in America and one of the 100 best companies to work for in the United States, and Americans named Wal-Mart the company they think of first in supporting local causes and issues, according to Cone, Inc. More information about Wal-Mart can be located on-line at http://www.walmartstores.com and http://www.walmart.com . The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at http://www.samsclub.com.