Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Anti-Target letter fueled by hoax

It has come to our attention that a recent letter in your paper is actually a misleading e-mail campaign, that we here at Target, have been battling for the past two years. In fact, the letter submitted to your paper isn’t even the original letter that started the campaign.

This e-mail campaign grossly misrepresents our support of veterans and our soldiers. In fact, the author of the original e-mail recently contacted Target to express his regret for sending the initial e-mail in 2002 and to share his concern about the false information being attributed to him. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Internet and e-mail communication, the original e-mail has been repeatedly and inaccurately modified and perpetuated by unknown writers.

The National Veterans of Foreign Wars posted a press release on their Web site on Dec. 6, 2002, to help clarify this issue and show their support of Target at http://www.vfw.org/news/target.htm.

Target Corporation is a publicly held U.S. company (NYSE: TGT). The company has been based in Minneapolis, Minn., ever since its founding as The Dayton Company by businessman George Dayton in 1902. Target is not now, nor has it ever been, foreign-owned.

Our company has supported many charitable causes throughout our history, including veterans’ organizations. For years, Target has donated funds and volunteer hours to local and national veteran and military organizations around the country.

In addition to supporting veteran and military organizations on a national scale, we also support local organizations.

Target Corporation is proud to count many veterans and military reservists among its more than 300,000 team members nationwide. To help support these team members, Target Corporation provides benefits for activated reservists, including pay differential, that surpass the benefits required by law. The Reserve Officers Association has recognized our company for these benefits, and the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve also lists Target on their Web site at http://www.esgr.org/employers/outstandingEmployers.asp.

Target team members who are activated for military service and were participating in optional dependent coverage at the time of their deployment are eligible to continue these benefits if they choose. Target Corporation also allows any Target team member to continue benefits as provided by the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

Target gives to diverse causes that reflect all types of guests in a wide variety of communities. While every cause is worthy, Target receives thousands of grant requests every year and unfortunately, we are unable to grant funds or partner with every organization. For more information that describes the guidelines and the application process, click on “Community Giving” or visit any Target store and ask for the grants brochure.

Target greatly respects the good work of the Toys for Tots program and all the volunteers who make this program a success every year. Target has a long-standing policy of no-solicitation by any group or organization at our stores. This policy includes the use of our store locations as collection or drop-off sites for any type of activity. The only organization that we currently allow to solicit at our stores during the holiday season is the Salvation Army, due to our long-standing relationship with this organization.

Target Corporation wholeheartedly supports U.S. veterans, reservists and active duty personnel and their families. We are proud of our record and remain committed to continuing support of veterans’ organizations as part of our overall charitable giving program.

Brie Heath

Target Stores

Media Relations

Minneapolis, Minn.