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Educators Awarded $4.5 Million Through Walmart and Sam's Club Teacher Rewards Program

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Walmart stores, Distribution Centers and Sam's Club locations are awarding more than 45,000 educators with $100 each through the Teacher Rewards program this back-to-school season, infusing $4.5 million to schools across America.

It's estimated that educators spend approximately $500 out of their own pockets each year for classroom supplies, including snacks for students who may not have regular access to food. The Teacher Rewards program helps offset those costs.

Last year, educators' top purchases through the Teacher Rewards program included 25,000 report folders, 24,000 packs of pens, pencils and crayons, 14,000 packs of paper, 13,000 packs of markers and 10,000 binders and clipboards, in addition to other essentials items--showing teachers need basic supplies to help support their classrooms.

"Teachers are the single most important factor in preparing students to be the next generation of leaders and to succeed in the workforce," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "With budgets tightening, we want to support teachers who are purchasing supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets."

Each Walmart store, Distribution Center and Sam's Club location across the U.S. will select one local kindergarten through eighth grade public school and provide $100 reward cards to 10 teachers from the selected school.

This is the second year Walmart has supported educators with Teacher Rewards, as part of the company's ongoing support of education initiatives. In 2009, Walmart and its Foundation gave more than $53 million to fund educational programs in communities across the country.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Walmart Foundation