Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today announced it will award a $50,000 grant and 80 hours of total paid time off in recognition of three of its employees as part of Gap Inc.'s annual Founders' Award. This award honors the philanthropic legacy of Gap Inc. founders Doris and Don Fisher and is given to employees who best demonstrate personal community involvement and propose innovative solutions that deliver a positive social impact.

Eric Severson, Amy Solliday and Paul Adams, all based in San Francisco, received this year’s award for commitment to their community partner, Family Service Agency of San Francisco (FSA) and their innovative program pilot focused on early intervention for schizophrenia. For several years these employees have supported FSA as members of the agency’s Board of Directors. FSA, a 120-year old nonprofit organization, serves all age groups and neighborhoods in San Francisco, with a focus on low-income and isolated individuals and families. Recently the agency has received considerable recognition for its work in providing cutting-edge mental health treatment in the community.

"We're thankful for the contributions Eric, Amy and Paul have already made to our organization as members of our Board of Directors," said Bob Bennett, President and CEO, Family Service Agency of San Francisco. "Their ongoing commitment has allowed them to leverage their professional skills and personal insight which has had an enormous and positive impact on our organization."

The grant money will help fund a new program to provide early diagnosis and cutting-edge treatment of schizophrenia for teens and young adults. This program, Prevention and Recovery of Early Psychosis (PREP), is currently being piloted in conjunction with UCSF and the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, and the Founders' funds will help expand the program to a community-wide intervention. In addition, the team will collectively receive 80 hours of paid time off to work with the nonprofit to get the project off the ground, including operations consulting and policy and procedure development.

This project has the potential to serve as a best practice model across various disciplines, and is expected to treat 50 clients in the first year, scaling up to 300 by the third year of operation.

"I'm proud to work for a company that supports its employees' community investment in the causes near and dear to them," said Eric Severson, Vice President of Human Resources, Gap Inc. Outlet. "I've been able to use the skills I've developed as a leader at Gap Inc., to provide expertise to the Family Service Agency, and the grant we're receiving will help move our program to a broader level with a significant impact."

This year, Gap Inc. is giving two additional awards to recognize outstanding community involvement.

Michelle Hellman, a Banana Republic Public Relations Manager in New York, is receiving $25,000 for her community partner charity: water, a nonprofit organization that brings clean and safe drinking water into impoverished communities. The grant money will be used to build four freshwater wells for schools in Ethiopia through A Glimmer of Hope Foundation. Hellman is also receiving 40 hours of paid time off and will use that time developing a schools program within the organization to raise awareness and understanding of this important issue, seeking strategic partnerships with media outlets and brands, and managing fundraising events.

Lisa Bouchard, an Old Navy Customer Experience Supervisor in Brunswick Maine, has received the third place award of 20 hours of paid time off and $15,000 for her nonprofit partner, The Fresh Air Fund, which provides free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low income and immigrant communities. Lisa's grant money will be used to underwrite the cost of bringing The Fresh Air Fund children to Maine and recruiting new host families. Bouchard will use her time off to manage a host family recruitment drive by promoting the Friendly Town program and conducting in-store pride events.

"We believe in recognizing our employees who invest in their local communities around the world," said Bobbi Silten, Chief Foundation Officer, Gap Inc. "We're proud of this year's Founders' Award winners for embracing the philanthropic spirit of Gap Inc.'s founders and using their passion for community and their creativity to make a difference."

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brand names. Fiscal 2007 sales were $15.8 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.

Gap Inc.

Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2012 net sales were $15.7 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,100 company-operated stores, over 300 franchise stores and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

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