FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julie Rems-Smario, Executive Director, Julie@Deaf-Hope.org

DeafHope
DeafHope@Deaf-Hope.org

Target Media Relations
(612) 696-3400

DeafHope Receives Grant from Target for the Children’s Program

Oakland, CA (February 29, 2008) – Today Target announces a partnership with DeafHope in recognition of its efforts in supporting Deaf children and hearing children of Deaf mothers who experienced domestic and/or sexual violence.  DeafHope received a grant from Target in the amount of $2,738.00 for support of the DeafHope Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing Program.

This grant will help many children like this 11-year hearing old son of a Deaf woman, “I feel so scared when I am alone because I get bad dreams that my father would go after us again.  He hurt me before when I tried to protect my mom.  Now my mom and I have moved far away from him, I still get flashbacks.  I worry about my mom. Often I have to interpret for her with the police and the lawyers.  We do not talk about what happened, but I would like to”.

DeafHope Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing Art Therapy Program provides nonverbal therapeutic support for children.  The grant will help DeafHope to purchase art supplies needed for their weekly children’s therapy projects.  DeafHope’s founding Executive Director, Julie Rems-Smario, said, “DeafHope staff is thrilled about Target’s continued support for the work we do everyday with children taking new steps towards lives without violence. They have been our ally during past three years”.

This grant is part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5% of its income to organizations that support education, the arts and safe families and communities. Today that translates to $3 million every week.

“At Target, we are making a real difference every day through our grant-making program,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “We’re proud to partner with DeafHope as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

Additionally, Target gives through signature programs that are designed to inspire learning in children and families. Programs include:
. Take Charge of Education, a school fundraising program
. Target Field Trip Grants, a program that helps educators bring learning to life for students through the distribution of grants
. Ready.Sit.Read!, a program dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of reading in children
. Target House, which serves as a home away from home for families of children receiving life-saving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis
. Target Volunteers, a program where Target team members and retirees annually donate more than 315,000 hours of time to more than 7,000 community-based projects

About DeafHope
The mission of DeafHope is to end domestic violence and sexual assault against Deaf women and children through empowerment, education and services. In October 2003, DeafHope received nonprofit status as the only Deaf-run nonprofit agency serving Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence in California. DeafHope services include our statewide 24/7 e-mail hotline for
Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  DeafHope also provide weekly group peer counseling for Deaf women survivors with childcare services and direct legal advocacy services such as restraining orders and child custody. During September 2005, we established the Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing Program by hiring a full time art therapist.

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,502 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.