Wal-Mart Continues Support of Parents Step Ahead with $25,000 Grant

The Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the nonprofit community organization Parents Step Ahead for parenting-education programs during the 2010-2011 school year.

A major supporter of Parents Step Ahead since it was established in 2006, Wal-Mart will present the grant from its State Giving Program at the organization's 5th Annual "Parent of the Year" Gala on Dec. 3, 2010, in Dallas, Texas.

"Wal-Mart strives to be a part of the local community and is proud to support agencies like Parents Step Ahead that encourage parental involvement and development," said Jeff McAllister, Senior Vice President for Texas. "Empowering parents with the tools needed to be proactive in their child's education and growth is a crucial step in their future success and happiness."

Parents Step Ahead partners with local Dallas-Fort Worth area school districts, community organizations and businesses to host school-based programs to educate parents on the importance of parental involvement and provide them the tools needed to be proactive in their children's education. The Wal-Mart donation will be used to fund six Parents Step Ahead school-based seminars in the districts of Dallas, Irving, and Garland. Some 300 parents are expected to attend each event, which consists of seminars on topics such as gang awareness, drug use prevention, Internet safety, raising children with love and logic, and financial literacy among many others. Free registration, meals, and childcare are provided for attendees who also can register to win a new, personal computer system.

"We thank Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart Foundation for their continued support of Parents Step Ahead," said Lupita Colmenero, Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Parents Step Ahead. "Because of the generous support of companies such as Wal-Mart, Parents Step Ahead is able to provide more than 1,000 parents each year the opportunity to become more actively involved in the educational and personal development of their children."

For more information about Parents Step Ahead's parent program or the "Parent of the Year" Gala, contact Parents Step Ahead at (214) 357-2186 or visit www.parentsstepahead.org.

About Parents Step Ahead

Parents Step Ahead is a 501-C3 nonprofit organization with a mission "to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children." The organization works in partnership with school districts, corporations and community organizations to offer a series of school-based programs for parents of all backgrounds throughout the school calendar year. Educators, motivational speakers, community volunteers and parenting experts present seminars on topics such as gang awareness, drug use prevention, underage drinking, computer literacy, Internet safety, raising kids with love and logic, and health and financial issues. Programs focus on ways parents and legal guardians can be involved in their child's life and the difference their involvement can make. www.parentsstepahead.org.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart

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