Walmart provides gift cards to 10 area teachers

As Cape educators continue to dedicate their time and money for their students' future, Walmart is helping 10 teachers at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in Milton purchase much-needed classroom supplies through its Teacher Rewards program.

Teachers across the country spent more than $1.33 billion out of pocket collectively on school supplies, snacks and instructional materials during the 2009-10 school year, according to the National School Supply and Equipment Association, a trade association for educational products companies.  Through the Teacher Rewards program, Walmart and Sam's Club locations nationwide are investing $4.5 million in America's teachers, providing 45,000 educators with gift cards to help teachers offset the cost of classroom expenses.

"Walmart appreciates the impact teachers continue to make in our community," said Lonnie Brown.  "We know our educators contribute not only their time, but also their money to ensure our students have a successful school year.  The Teacher Rewards program is our way of saying thank you."

Through the Teacher Rewards program, local Walmart stores, Distribution Centers and Sam's Club locations across the U.S. are eligible to select one local public school and provide $100 reward cards to 10 teachers.  Winning teachers are able to use the funds to purchase essential items for their classrooms such as paper, folders, binders, clipboards, pens, pencils, crayons and markers.

In its third year, The Teacher Rewards program is an extension of Walmart's ongoing support of education and local community involvement.  In 2010, Walmart and its foundation gave more than $89 million to fund educational, health and children's programs to help students in communities across the country better prepare for their future. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.