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Wal-Mart Foundation and CARE Team Up to Empower Young Women Around the World

Wal-Mart Foundation and CARE Team Up to Empower Young Women Around the World

Published 05-05-09

Submitted by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 2009 - The Wal-Mart Foundation today announced a $1 million grant to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Projects funded by this grant will focus on empowering impoverished young women around the world through education, job-training and entrepreneurial support programs.

The announcement was made at CARE's National Conference and Celebration, an annual gathering that raises awareness and voices of the issues that keep millions in poverty around the world. The funding from the Wal-Mart Foundation represents the first step toward a long-term partnership that will improve the lives of women and girls in the developing world. Over the next year, the Wal-Mart Foundation and CARE will focus on young women in Peru, Bangladesh and India.

According to Margaret McKenna, Wal-Mart Foundation president, "CARE is at the forefront of a global effort to create better lives for millions of young women around the world. For many of these women, education, training and entrepreneurship are critical to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty - and with CARE, women around the world will benefit from the Wal-Mart Foundation's commitment to creating opportunities so people can live better."

Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE, said, "We firmly believe that global poverty can be defeated by collaborating with corporations, governments, individuals and others sharing this common goal. The Wal-Mart Foundation's contribution will help empower women and uplift communities, which is a proven way to strike at the roots of poverty. We look forward to working together on this effort."

According to the United Nations Population Fund, three fifths of the world's one billion poorest people are women and girls. Of the nearly 1 billion adults in the world who cannot read, two thirds are women.

The Wal-Mart Foundation awards grants that seek to address the educational needs of underserved young people ages 12 to 25. This year on International Women's Day, Wal-Mart donated $25,000 to CARE's "Power Within" program. This program focuses on girls' education and leadership, helping more than 10 million girls complete primary school and develop leadership skills in 20 countries around the world.

About CARE
CARE fights root causes of poverty in the world's poorest communities. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. In 66 countries, women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to water and sanitation,
expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. Each year, CARE helps tens of millions of people around the world effect real, positive changes in their lives.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart 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 Wal-Mart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart - and its domestic
and international Foundations - gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. logo

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,700 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmartgreen. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

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