Nashville, Tenn. (February 3, 2010) – The Nashville Predators educational outreach received a huge boost this week when Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. generously donated $100,000 to the Predators Foundation PIPER (Predators Incentive Program for Education and Rewards) program. The Wal-Mart Foundation’s Tennessee State Giving Program presented the check to Predators player Jordin Tootoo and owner David Freeman on Tuesday night after the Nashville Predators game versus the Phoenix Coyotes. This is the largest corporate donation the Predators Foundation has received.

The PIPER program is a free, incentive-based program for middle schools in the middle Tennessee area, through which students are rewarded for achieving targeted goals – academic, attendance, or behavioral – by receiving a ticket voucher to attend an upcoming Nashville Predators game.

Participating Schools Include:

"Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is excited to once again be teaming up with the Nashville Predators Foundation, this time in supporting the PIPER program," Walmart Tennessee State Giving Program Chairman, Dennis Alpert said. "The Nashville Predators have consistently focused their charitable efforts on education initiatives that serve to inspire teachers and students in and around Nashville.

“The Walmart Foundation shares that focus and feels that as a ‘store of the community’ we have a responsibility to help promote efforts like the PIPER program that seek to inspire and reward academic achievement. In continuing to partner with the Predators we hope to also inspire and challenge both large and small Nashville area businesses to support ‘Our Team.’”

This is not the first time the Nashville Predators and Walmart have teamed up to support education; the two organizations teamed up in the past on initiatives such as the Walmart-sponsored Nashville Predators Teacher of the Month program.

“The Nashville Predators Foundation and the Walmart Foundation share very similar goals in regards to community outreach so this partnership is a natural fit,” Nashville Predators President of Business Operations, Ed Lang said. “Both organizations realize the importance of, and strive to support, education in every way possible. Walmart’s generous donation to the PIPER program not only helps this important program reach more students but it also helps solidify a strong partnership for future educational endeavors.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Predators Foundation has awarded over $2.0 million through financial grants to Nashville area charitable and community service organizations. To learn more about the PIPER program, please visit nashvillepredators.com or call (615) 770-2321.