Laredo Sams/Wal-Mart Awards Grant to Texas A&M International University

The Laredo Sams/Wal-Mart has presented Texas A&M International University with a $1000 grant in support of student scholarships.

The Grant is provided by Wal-Mart Associates as part of its Wal-Mart Community Matching Grant Program, said store manager Ana Flores.

"Our associates were thrilled to partner with Texas A&M International University to raise funds for a worthwhile cause," Flores said.

"The money will help local students and support our hometown University. This is just a small part of Wal-Mart's ongoing commitment to the communities in which we operate," she explained.

A&M International president Charles Jennett said the University appreciates the corporate support provided by Wal-Mart associates.

"The availability of additional scholarship funds helps to assure that students are able to attain their higher education goals. We appreciate the investment the people of Wal-Mart are making in our students and, by extension, in our community," Jennett said.

In addition to its Laredo stores, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) operates more than 2,400 stores and 450 Sam's Clubs in the United States and 725 units internationally.

Globally, the Company units are in Argentina (13), Brazil (14), Canada (152), Germany (95), Mexico (416), and Puerto Rico (15) and under joint venture agreements in China (5) and Korea (4). Wal-Mart employs more than 780,000 associates in the United States and 130,000 around the world.

In 1998 the company raised and donated more than $127 million for charitable organizations.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 956.326.2175, email to lmorales@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 262.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu