SCORE and Sam's Club Spread Holiday Cheer for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SCORE – www.score.org – mentors to America's small businesses and Sam's Club, are recognizing small businesses this holiday season to make the year-end and future a little brighter. SCORE assists thousands of new and growing small businesses for FREE all year long through its nationwide network of 12,000+ volunteer mentors in 340+ chapters across the country. The Sam's Club Holiday Giving campaign will award 102 selected nationwide businesses – two in every state and in Washington, DC - with a $1,000 gift card to purchase Sam's Club merchandise critical to run their business. Additionally, a Sam's Club grant to SCORE totaling more than $500,000 will provide each business owner with access and travel to a two-day educational event to help them implement strategies to grow their business. The grant will also fund three regional educational workshop events in 2013 hosted by SCORE for any small business in those regions.  Combined, these events aimed to reach over one thousand small businesses. The 102 small businesses in the Sam's Club Holiday Giving campaign were chosen in part by local SCORE chapters based on each business's need and commitment to ongoing learning and growth. To see a full list of small businesses benefitting from the Sam's Club – SCORE alliance, visit SamsClub.com/giving.

"Successful small businesses are integral to solidifying a strong economy," said W. Kenneth Yancey, Jr., CEO, SCORE. "Working with Sam's Club this holiday season, numerous SCORE small business clients will benefit from an award that will give them the financial and educational boost they need to start 2013 with a more secure foundation."

Sam's Club provided a $547,000 grant to SCORE this holiday season to provide travel and access for the 102 chosen recipients to a two-day "High Speed Growth Seminar," a special training program featuring key executives and workshops on attracting customers, branding, online marketing and developing a sales plan. Sam's Club supports community-based programs that empower young people, families and small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures.

A dedication to America's small businesses and their communities is a shared interest of both Sam's Club and SCORE. The Holiday Giving campaign is one way both organizations support small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures. For more information on this and other initiatives, please log on to www. SCORE.org or SamsClub.com/giving.

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year SCORE helps launch 58,000 new businesses and create 71,000 jobs. SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses annually.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans and www.twitter.com/SCOREMentors.

About Sam's Club
Sam's Club®, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. WMT, is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 34 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple®, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam's Club on our Mobile and iPad® Apps.

Contact Information
Shalini Karnani Bonjour
800/634-0245
media@score.org

SOURCE SCORE