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Walmart and Leadership South Carolina Make Important Contribution to the

SPARTANBURG, SC – A group gathered today at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) to celebrate dormitory renovations and a tremendous $3,000 contribution made from Walmart and Leadership South Carolina (LSC). Adopted by the 2009-2010 Leadership South Carolina class, 29 class members, plus 29 other volunteers including spouses, children and students from Lander University, students from Mauldin High School and SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and Walker Foundation staff members diligently worked from March 26-28 on this project.

Throughout the 9,600 square foot Henderson Hall, 32 rooms including bedrooms, bathrooms, study rooms, leisure rooms, kitchens, offices and storage rooms, plus hallways and stairwells were refurnished, using 90 gallons of donated paint. Volunteers also provided the painting prep work, framed student artwork for the dorm and obtained donations to help offset the costs. One group is still working on a mural.

Serving 280 deaf, blind and multi-handicapped children on the main campus, the facilities suffer the usual wear and tear from obvious environmental factors. Renovating these buildings is an ongoing process for the school, with Henderson being one of the last on the list and in desperate need for a facelift.

“While I continue to be amazed at the generosity of our supporters, SCSDB has not been immune to the current economic situation,” stated Maggie Park, SCSDB President. “In being proper stewards of our dollars, we feared that finishing these renovations would be unlikely this year. So, you can only imagine my delight when Helen Munnerlyn with Leadership South Carolina informed me that this year’s class would be adopting this effort and allowing the school to finish this important project. And, we are certainly more than awed by Walmart’s incredible contribution. The students will be thrilled when they return in the fall to new furniture in their activity room.”

Each year, Leadership South Carolina visits several cities and organizations throughout the state, gathering information about community services and needs. The tour of SCSDB made a lasting impact on this year’s class, resulting in a unanimous vote to take on this organization and provide any assistance that could be given.

“Over the past 20 years, Leadership South Carolina has adopted a number of causes and projects, none more deserving that the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind,” said Helen Munnerlyn, LSC Executive Director. “This institution and the work it does with students and families statewide is a tremendous asset for our state. I’m proud that it inspired Rob Green with Walmart to further extend their generosity with this amazing gift.”

The Walmart donation will allow the school to purchase new couches for the freshly painted dormitory. It will also provide some seed money for its next renovation project.

“The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind is a well known presence statewide, but certainly holds a special place for those of us in the Upstate,” explained Rob Green, Walmart Upstate Market Manager. “Located in an out-of-the-way spot and not one to brag about its accomplishments, many of us probably knew very little about its mission prior to this project. I was amazed to learn of its impact for our disabled children and their families and what it means for this population to receive such an amazing education. On behalf of Walmart, I am honored to support this important organization and all it does for the future of these great students.”

About South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind
SCSDB provides statewide leadership in education and accessibility for individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multidisabled, their families and the professionals who serve them through: Preschool – 12 educational programs on the main campus in Spartanburg, including the Schools for the Deaf, Blind and Multihandicapped; specialized vision and hearing services in local school districts statewide; early intervention programs for infants and toddlers; family and program assistance for students with deaf-blindness; braille and large print services; free assistive phone and alerting devices; sign language interpreting services; summer camps for children who are deaf or blind; and family and professional conferences.
SCSDB is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf and the SC Department of Education. The SC Department of Education named SCSDB a Red Carpet School for its outstanding customer service and a Palmetto Gold School for academic accomplishments.
The school’s web address is www.scsdb.org and its toll free telephone number is 1-888-447-2732.

About the Walker Foundation
The Walker Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind, is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit foundation, licensed by the S.C. Department of Public Charities. Through the generosity of its contributors, the foundation aids and strengthens the work of SCSDB across the state by providing grants, referral information, public awareness programs and direct assistance.
The Walker Foundation’s web address is www.walkerfdn.org and its toll-free telephone number is
1-888-447-2732.

About Leadership South Carolina
Leadership South Carolina is the state’s oldest and most respected leadership development program. The Class of 2010 joins over 1,400 Leadership South Carolina alumni who help better the state for all South Carolinians. Over the nine-month program, participants addressed current and critical issues facing South Carolina. Leadership South Carolina accepts approximately 50 participants a year who demonstrate commitment to their community and strive to reach a higher level of service to the Palmetto State. If interested in learning more about Leadership South Carolina or to apply for, please visit us on the Web at www.leadershipsouthcarolina.net.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.