Lansing Sam’s Club Donates $10,000 To Small Business Foundation of Michigan

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 25, 2011 – Sam’s Club today announced it is donating $10,000 to the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) as the result of a campaign held during National Small Business Week.

The national campaign resulted in 11 local donations across the U.S., which were determined by the number of volunteer hours logged by club managers working in small businesses in their communities.

The Sam’s Club managers in the Lansing area volunteered for a variety of small businesses ranging from a car dealership and restaurants to a golf course.

“Through our relationship with small business owners that shop in our clubs and are also involved with the SBAM, we’ve developed a better understanding of what they mean to small businesses throughout Michigan,” said Chris Axer, market manager.

The Small Business Foundation of Michigan (SBFM), operated in connection with the SBAM, raises funds for projects aimed at stimulating robust entrepreneurial change, vibrancy and culture.

The grant from Sam’s Club will aid in SBFM’s annual Entrepreneurship Score Card, which is aimed at helping policymakers understand how entrepreneurship is faring in an overall Michigan economic environment that continues to struggle for traction. It will also help implement tools needed for “economic gardening,” a style of economic development that embraces an entrepreneurial culture supporting the establishment and growth of small businesses.

“Anytime our community points out that we’re doing something right for small businesses, it is rewarding,” said Dan Mahoney, chief operating officer of SBFM. “We were thrilled that Sam’s Club wanted to support our efforts.”

About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation’s eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 30 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made SimpleSM, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam’s Club on Twitter.

Sam’s Club Giving

Sam’s Club supports community-based programs that empower young people, families and small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures.During the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, 2011, on behalf of Sam’s Club, the Walmart Foundation gave more than $89 million in cash and in-kind gifts to support local U.S. organizations focusing on education, health and children’s programs.http://www.samsclub.com/giving.