Walmart to Donate 20,000 Tickets to America I AM: The African-American Imprint

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Walmart (NYSE: WMT), the presenting sponsor of the America I AM: The African-American Imprint tour, is helping to provide all families and students in the Washington, D.C. area access to this special exhibition by making 20,000 free tickets available to the public. In partnership with the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities and DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative, Walmart is giving students and families the opportunity to learn about African-American culture and history in the United States. Just in time for Black History Month, America I AM, a four-year touring exhibition that celebrates nearly 500 years of African-American contributions to this country, will make its Washington, D.C. debut at the National Geographic Museum on February 2.

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"Walmart is continuously committed to supporting communities throughout the nation, especially those where our associates and customers live, work and play," says Alex Barron, Regional General Manager-Mid Atlantic States, Walmart US. "As the nation prepares to celebrate Black History Month, we are honored to present the America I AM exhibit to the D.C. community. More importantly we are proud to give students and families who might not have had an opportunity to experience this exhibition, the chance to do so."

Group tickets for D.C. area youth will be made available to the public through the National Geographic Museum. Tickets are available for groups of 25 students or more and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additional tickets for D.C. public schools and chartered public school groups will be available through the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities and DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative, in which school groups will be provided with transportation and access to the exhibit.

"At the DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative, we believe that arts and humanities are central to the education of every student and contribute to their overall growth," says Louise Kennelly, Executive Director. "We are proud to join forces with Walmart to continue providing more D.C. children with a well-rounded education. From exploring the contributions of African-Americans to celebrating the culture as a whole, we are confident students will be inspired by their America I AM experience."

To obtain complimentary exhibition tickets, DCPS and public charter school teachers can contact the DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative to request transportation and student tickets at (202)204-7750. Other area student and youth organizations located in the counties of Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles, Frederick, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park can contact the National Geographic Museum at (202)857-7281.

Walmart is also offering specially-priced tickets at select Walmart stores in the Washington, D.C. area. To continue its commitment to providing the best value to its customers, Walmart is offering tickets at the lowest available price: $10 for adults and $5 for children. The discounted prices are 17 percent off standard ticket prices.

America I AM will be open at the National Geographic Museum through May 1, 2011. The museum is located at 1145 17th Street NW, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the exhibition and accompanying public programs, please visit www.ngmuseum.org.

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or "Walmart," serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,800 retail units under 59 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2010 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.  

About America I AM: The African-American Imprint

America I AM: The African-American Imprint exhibition was developed in partnership with Tavis Smiley and organized by Arts and Exhibitions International and the Cincinnati Museum Center. America I AM is made possible by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., its proud sponsor. Northern Trust is the exhibition's educational partner, and Microsoft is the technology partner for the tour. For more information, visit www.americaiam.org.

About the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative (DC Collaborative) provides equitable access to quality arts and humanities education for all DC public and chartered public schools for the growth of the whole child. Working with its 60 members, since its founding in 1998, the DC Collaborative produces such exemplary programs as Arts for Every Student and the Arts Education Initiative. For more information, visit www.dcahec.com

SOURCE Walmart