Target Celebrates $200 Million "Back to Schools" Nationwide

 

MINNEAPOLIS (July 23, 2007) - Teachers and students around the country have another reason to celebrate the start of the new school year - $200 million in donations from Target over the last 10 years! Since its inaugural donation of more than $10,000 in March 1997, the Take Charge of Education^® program has raised more than $200 million for schools nationwide. Take Charge of Education dollars are donated to schools twice each year and over the past 10 years, schools have used the undesignated funds for classrooms needs, whether it is books, field trips, new technology or supplies. Take Charge of Education embraces the company's commitment to education and is designed to enhance educational efforts for children in communities across the country.

 

Through the Take Charge of Education program, families, teachers and members of the community have an easy way to sign up and designate an eligible K-12 school of their choice and have Target donate an amount equal to one percent of their REDcard SM (Target^® Visa^® Credit Card and Target Credit Card^SM) purchases made at Target and Target.com* throughout the year. Target also donates 0.5 percent of all Target Visa Credit Card purchases made everywhere else Visa credit cards are accepted.

 

"More than 3.5 million Target guests have participated in Take Charge of Education over the past year, which proves that Target is not alone in its commitment to supporting schools," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. "Thanks to our guests' loyal participation in the program, which is the driving force behind its success, REDcard purchases have suddenly become $200 million worth of new books, computers or classroom supplies for teachers and students over the last 10 years."

 

Schools receive Take Charge of Education payout checks in March and September. Currently, more than 102,000 schools are enrolled in the program and more than 3.5 million Target cardholders nationwide have participated in the past year.

 

"Eagle Point has been participating in Take Charge of Education since the program began in 1997, and we have received nearly $15,000 from Target donations over the last 10 years," said Sue Jetzke, a third grade teacher at Eagle Point Elementary School in Oakdale, Minn. "Without those funds, we would not have the ability to take field trips or provide artist-in-residence and other all-school programs - all things that our children need to learn, grow and reinforce the classroom experience."

 

Cardholders and school representatives can visit www.Target.com/tcoe, call 1-800-316-6142 or log on to kiosks at Target stores to enroll, select a funding destination or check the status of particular payouts. Members of the media may contact Rebecca Maas at (646) 218-6003 to learn more about money designated for local area schools.

 

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,502 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at www.Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.