Target 2002 Annual Report Download - page 17

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For nearly six decades, Target
Corporation has contributed five
percent of our federally taxable income
to support non-profit programs across
the country. Reflecting the importance
we place on our relationships with our
guests, our annual giving is directed
to areas that our guests most value,
including programs in education,
social services and the arts.
Our Take Charge of Education
program reflects a large part of our
commitment to education. It connects
our guests’ goodwill and educational
values with more than 1,100 Target
stores nationwide. By fall 2003, we
expect to reach a total contribution to
education of more than $100 million,
supporting schools and students
across the country.
Our nationwide reading initiatives—
“Ready. Sit. Read!” at Target, “Field’s
Go Read!” at Marshall Field’s and
Mervyn’s “Go Places. Read.”— leverage
the power of Target Corporation to
focus on early childhood reading.
Start Something, a partnership
between Target and the Tiger Woods
Foundation, continues to help children
define their dreams and take the
necessary steps to make these
dreams come true. In the past year,
enrollment grew from 25,000 kids
to almost one million.
We also have joined with our vendor
and celebrity partners to build Target
House, a home away from home for
the patients and families of St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital. In
November 2002, we celebrated
the opening of the second phase of
Target House, virtually eliminating the
need for any family whose child is in
treatment to stay in a hotel.
Strengthening families means
reaching out to children and parents
alike. Mervyn’s annual Child Spree
event provides back-to-school
essentials like clothing and school
supplies, while Mervyn’s Community
Closet serves adults throughout
the year by helping them dress
for success as they transition from
welfare to the workplace.
Marshall Field’s sponsors family
events at theaters, museums and
concert halls with a focus on connect-
ing learning with an enjoyment of
the arts.
For decades, we have contributed
financial resources and encouraged our
team members to volunteer their time
and talent to help make their commun-
ities safer and more attractive places to
live. We firmly believe that these efforts,
combined with the over 300,000
volunteer hours donated last year,
create substantial value for our guests,
our team members and our shareholders.
The value of a helping hand or a caring
smile. The value of a safer place to
live. The value of building self-esteem,
realizing dreams, or listening to the
quiet voice of someone reading a
story. The value of contributing more
than two million dollars every week.