FORTY ORLANDO WAL-MART'S PLEDGE $40,000 FOR CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK

On Tuesday, March 29, 2005 over 40 Wal-Mart, SAM'S CLUB and Neighborhood Market stores - throughout six counties - will celebrate the birthday of their founder, Sam Walton. During the "Birthday Bash," each store will set a goal to raise $1,000 for Children's Miracle Network (CMN).

To reach their target, the stores will involve customers and associates in the festivities. They will create unique and individual fundraising activities such as: selling CMN paper balloon icons at the registers, having cookouts in the parking lots and holding contests between associates. The stores will strive to meet the goal to honor their leader‘s wishes, by continuing to demonstrate the community-friendly standing Wal-Mart has always upheld.

Sam Walton originated the partnership between Wal-Mart and Children's Miracle Network over 18 years ago. He was intrigued by the organization and the fact that each of his stores would be supporting children in their own community. In a planning meeting early on with Children's Miracle Network co-founder, Mick Shannon, Sam said: "Our associates will amaze you!" Since then, Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB stores have continued to raise money for Children's Miracle Network - totaling 300 million dollars in the United States and Canada .

In Greater Orlando - Orange , Osceola, Brevard, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties - Wal-Mart stores raised $215,000 in 2004 for Shands Children's Hospital at UF and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. These two hospitals use CMN funds each year to purchase life-saving equipment, patient education, diversionary activities for the children, and to further research in some of the countries greatest medical challenges. Without the commitment to CMN from Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB, some of the innovative and vital additions to these two hospitals would not have been possible.

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Children's Miracle Network began in 1983 to help children by actively supporting better health care for kids. Today, more than 170 hospitals throughout North America , specializing in pediatrics, are affiliated with Children's Miracle Network . Shands Children's Hospital at UF and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women share the funds raised through Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network. For more information about Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network, visit www.gocmn.org.

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Contact Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network, 22 West Lake Beauty Drive, Suite 102 - Orlando, FL 32806. Phone: 407-481-2774.