Walmart.com, CBS News' The Early Show and United Way Team Up to Make Season Brighter for Children Affected By Hurricanes

Walmart.com, CBS News' The Early Show and United Way Team Up to Make Season Brighter for Children Affected By Hurricanes

'Wishes for Kids' Gift Registry at Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com ) Makes It Easy for Customers and CBS News' The Early Show Viewers to Donate Toys to United Way for Youngest Hurricane Victims

BRISBANE, Calif., NEW YORK and ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Walmart.com, CBS News' The Early Show, and United Way announce today that they are teaming up to help make the season brighter for the youngest victims of Hurricanes Rita, Wilma and Katrina.

Beginning Thurs., Dec. 1, and continuing every Monday through Saturday until Dec. 24, CBS News' The Early Show will devote time during its weather segments to collecting toys for the young victims of this year's numerous hurricanes, and direct viewers to Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com/ ) to make toy purchases for donation.

"We're proud that this program allows us to help children affected by the recent hurricanes," said Carter Cast, Walmart.com president. "We're doing what we can to help and make this a meaningful and successful toy drive, both for givers and receivers."

At Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com/ ), viewers can access a gift registry known as "Wishes for Kids" that is filled with pre-selected toys for children affected by the hurricanes this season. Walmart.com will then ship the donated toys directly to United Way, which will ensure they are distributed to those children in need. All donations are tax deductible.

"Helping those in need is what the season is all about," said Michael Bass, senior executive producer of CBS News' The Early Show. "We are pleased to partner with Walmart.com and United Way to bring holiday cheer to children and their families who have suffered so much as a result of the hurricanes."

"We're very pleased to be partnering with Walmart.com and CBS News' The Early Show to improve the lives of children affected this hurricane season," stated Brian A. Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. "Recovery and rebuilding in the Gulf Coast states is a long-term prospect. It's great to be able to provide children and families -- many of whom have lost everything -- with some happiness and sense of normalcy this holiday season," he concluded.

Walmart.com, CBS News' The Early Show and United Way will have links to the "Wishes for Kids" registry on their home web pages. The Early Show will also mention the donation campaign in its daily newsletter, and will solicit contributions and gifts-in-kind on the Plaza outside CBS studios at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City every morning.

About Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. The company also operates 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 and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/ . Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com/ .

CBS EARLY SHOW is broadcast weekdays (7:00-9:00AM, ET/PT) and Saturdays (7:00-9:00 AM ET/PT; check local listings) on the CBS Television Network. Michael Bass is the senior executive producer. Nanci Ross is the director of special projects.

About United Way of America

United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America by focusing on the root causes of the most serious problems. The United Way movement includes over 1,300 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. For more information about United Way of America, please visit: http://www.unitedway.org/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010831/WALMARTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

CONTACT: Gail Lavielle of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., +1-479-273-4314; or Amy
Colella, of Walmart.com, +1-650-837-5232; or Leigh Farris of CBS News' The
Early Show, +1-212-975-2856; or Sheila Consaul of United Way of America,
+1-703-683-7871

Web site: http://www.walmart.com/
http://www.walmartstores.com/
http://www.walmartfacts.com/
http://www.unitedway.org/

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