In 2001, our focus continued to be the support of charitable causes that center around children and families in the communities in which we live. To that end, The TJX Foundation, along with our divisions, supported over 730 non-profit organizations worldwide. Some of the programs that received divisional support were the T.J. Maxx-sponsored Save the Children and Zink the Zebra Foundation, the Marshalls-sponsored Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Winners-sponsored The Sunshine Foundation, the HomeGoods-sponsored Jimmy Fund, the T.K. Maxx-sponsored NCH, one of the United Kingdom’s leading children’s charities and the A.J. Wright-sponsored Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

We continued to support the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts, including aid to families of the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy, and participated in several blood drives. We also supported the Massachusetts food pantry and oil heat fund.

Our work in the community goes far beyond monetary donations. The goodwill that we generate cannot be measured in dollars and cents. TJX associates donate their time and energy for many great causes throughout the year. For example, our associates participate in the annual Walk for the Cure to raise awareness and funding for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. We are also a major supporter of the Jimmy Fund Walk-A-Thon. We estimate that over 10,000 associates across all TJX divisions take part in company-sponsored events each year.

TJX continues to be a major contributor and trailblazer in the innovative Welfare-to-Work program. Since the beginning of our participation in 1997, we have hired over 26,000 individuals from the welfare system. We believe that, as an upstanding corporate citizen, we have an obligation to help people move from the welfare rolls into private sector jobs where they can be productive and independent. We also champion cultural diversity through our hiring programs, our community outreach programs and our vendor relationships that cultivate minority and women-owned suppliers.

We believe that through involvement with our communities, we develop a better understanding of the needs of our customers, our associates and all those who surround us. By responding to those needs, we become stronger as individuals and, therefore, as a Company.