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Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF) receives grant from Wal-Mart.

Lakewood, CA (March 27, 2000) — The Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF) received a $10,000 grant from the Lakewood Wal-Mart store to support the group's efforts to ensure max-imum participation of the nation's Hispanic population in this decennial Census count. The donation was part of grand opening ceremonies to introduce the newest Wal-Mart store in Lakewood, CA., on March 15. MALDEF is a Los Angeles-based national nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and promote the civil rights of the more than 30 million Latinos living in the United States.

"This $10,000 grant recognizes MALDEF for its accomplishments in identifying community needs, as well as promoting the importance of the Census to the nation's Hispanic population," said Jon Sims, Wal-Mart Stores Regional Vice President, CA.

MALDEF launched ¡Hagase Contar! (Make Yourself Count!), a nationwide outreach effort March 30, 1999, in 12 cities across the country to ensure an accurate count of Latinos in Census 2000. The campaign complements Wal-Mart's efforts to provide its customers with access to Census staff members, who will be at selected Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs across the nation March 25, 2000, to answer questions about the Census.

"We are pleased that Wal-Mart acknowledges the significance of an accurate count of U.S. Latinos and are actively participating in supporting the Census," said Beatriz Lopez Flores, MALDEF Vice President, Community Education & Public Policy.

MALDEF's national campaign aims to reach Latino immigrants through schools, churches, community based organizations, special service agencies, adult schools and community events, while its regional efforts will target community based groups, schools, churches, small businesses, labor and elected officials.

"MALDEF has a 30 year history of working to advance the rights of Latinos in the United States, making sure Latinos are properly counted in the Census is one of our key priorities," said Lopez Flores.

"We are proud to partner with MALDEF and the many other organizations who are participating to raise awareness and participation in the Census to make this the most accurate Census ever," said Sims.

As of February 28, 2000, Wal-Mart operated 1,801 Wal-Mart stores, 721 Supercenters, and 463 Sam's Clubs in the United States. Wal-Mart employs more than 885,000 people in the United States and is the largest employer of Hispanics and African Americans.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. empowers its associates to serve the needs of their communities through its "Good Works" initiatives. Last year, associates of the company's 3,000 Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers raised and donated more than $163 million to charitable organizations nationwide.

In addition, Wal-Mart and SAM'S Club employ a number of programs that encourage children's health and safety, education and community minded awareness. For more information, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
Wal-Mart and MALDEF prepare for the Census 2000 headcount: Two of the nation's most respected organizations in the Latino community are working to ensure the most accurate population count ever. To celebrate the grand opening of its newest store in Lakewood, CA, Wal-Mart Store Managers Steve Thompson (r) and Carlos Gomez (l) presented MALDEF's Beatriz Lopez-Flores (c) with a donation of $10,000. Lopez-Flores is Vice President of Community Education & Public Policy and oversees MALDEF's census support program ¡Hagase Contar! (Make yourself Count!), a nationwide outreach effort. The campaign is aimed at the nation's Latino population and compliments Wal-Mart's efforts to provide customers with access to census staff members, who were at selected Wal-Mart Stores across the nation to answer questions about the census on March 25, 2000.

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