Wachovia will donate $1 to Toys for Tots for every Visa gift card

With the national unemployment rate now above 10 percent, Wachovia, a unit of Wells Fargo & Company, announced it will donate $1 to Toys for Tots for every Visa gift card it sells through December 31, 2009 – up to $250,000. Proceeds will provide toys to children who might otherwise not receive them this holiday season.

Wachovia customers can purchase the Visa gift cards in whole dollar amounts from $25 to $600 at Wachovia retail bank locations or online at Wachovia.com/giftcard. The cards can be used wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. There is a one-time charge of $3.95.

“As the economy continues to suffer, more children than ever will likely face Christmas morning without a toy,” said Bill Grein, vice president of marketing for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “As a result, Toys for Tots is expecting an unprecedented increase in requests for toys, as more families must choose between putting food on the table or a gift under the tree. We are thankful to Wachovia for helping us reach these families in their time of need.”

Gift cards also can be enrolled in Visa Online Discounts, allowing cardholders to enjoy additional savings with select merchants.

“Now more than ever, it’s essential for our communities to band together and help Toys for Tots deliver the magic of the holidays to every child who might otherwise wake up to an empty tree on Christmas morning,” said Lionel Means, vice president of Wachovia Prepaid Product. “We’re proud to offer our customers a great product while giving back to Toys for Tots, an organization that puts a smile on the faces of children who are facing tough times.”

For 62 years, the mission of Toys for Tots has been to make a positive impact on the lives of our most precious resource – our children. Through the gift of a shiny new toy during the holidays, Toys for Tots sends a message to economically disadvantaged children that someone cares, that they have not been forgotten and that the magic of the holiday season has not passed them by. Each gift instills a sense of pride, provides positive recognition and makes a positive impact on the life of a child for years to come. Additional information can be found online at www.toysfortots.org .

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 10,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally.