BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT - News) today announced its 2005 charitable giving numbers, which total more than $245 million in financial and in-kind donations to various charitable organizations and causes. The figure represents a nearly $38 million increase from 2004 and demonstrates Wal-Mart's commitment to making a difference in the lives of working families -- its customers, associates and neighbors. The company distributed the majority of its donations to organizations at the local level, from providing funds to an elementary school in Atlanta and supporting a Little League team in Beech Grove, Ind. to helping fire fighters purchase helmets in Granite City, Ill. and partnering on a state-wide recycling initiative targeting youth in California.

Wal-Mart's philanthropic efforts consist of giving, fundraising and volunteering. In 2005, the company and the Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB Foundation donated more than $650,000 each day to charitable organizations nationwide. On top of these financial contributions, Wal-Mart raised more than $72 million for charitable organizations through in-store and CLUB fundraising efforts. In addition, store associates spent nearly 1 million hours working with charitable organizations of their choice through the company's associate-based volunteer program.

As the largest charitable corporate foundation according to a recent Forbes survey, Wal-Mart strives to give back to the areas it serves in ways that will have the strongest impact by responding to each community's specific needs. Wal-Mart is able to address the various issues that affect the communities it serves, by cultivating a direct, sustained partnership between its stores, associates and customers. Each store manager is able to decide where the store's charitable donations will go and how it will make the most difference in their individual community.

"We operate globally, but we give back locally," said Ray Bracy, vice president, Corporate Affairs, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "At Wal-Mart, we are proud to be a 'store of the community,' and part of that means supporting our neighbors in the communities we serve, being involved in the neighborhoods where we operate stores and making a difference at the local level."

Due to the company's philanthropic mission and operational infrastructure, Wal-Mart was positioned to quickly respond to the emergency needs of residents in the Gulf Coast region last fall. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Wal- Mart led the way in corporate cash donations, donating more than $18 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts, including the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and the Texas Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, through Wal-Mart's Associate Disaster Relief Fund, the company provided $14.5 million in cash assistance to the more than 20,000 associates impacted.

Last year, Wal-Mart also made charitable donations to organizations as diverse as the Children's Miracle Network, United Way of America and The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to name a few. Some of the company's philanthropic initiatives include Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program and the Sam Walton Community Scholarship. In 2005, the company donated more than $45 million in support of educational initiatives. In addition, through a long-standing partnership with The Salvation Army, a record $26 million was collected for the organization's annual Red Kettle campaign at Wal-Mart stores and SAM'S CLUBs and an additional $17,000 via an online giving system.

     Wal-Mart Overall U.S. Giving Numbers for 2005

     Cash Contributions                                $222,934,846
     In-Kind Donations                                  $24,005,602
     Funds Raised                                       $72,294,377
     Grand Total (Cash, In-Kind, and Monies Raised)    $319,234,825

More information about the Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB Foundation and the company's charitable giving can be found at http://www.walmartfoundation.org and http://www.walmartfacts.com .

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. The company has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom.. The company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Arca, formerly the Pacific Stock Exchange, under the symbol WMT. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com .