January 22, 2008: LSS announced a partnership with Target in recognition of a $500,000 grant it received for the LSS Center for Changing Lives, a $27 million social service campus that will include a wide variety of social services as well as affordable apartments for 48 families who are struggling. The Target grant brought the project’s fundraising goal to the 85 percent mark.

“We are grateful for the support that Target has shown for our Center for Changing Lives project in Minneapolis – as well as for its continued help on many fronts,” said Mark Peterson, LSS’ President and CEO. “When the business community joins with individuals and other organizations to benefit the community, we can all be thankful.”

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 percent 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 Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

Additionally, Target also 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!SM, 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 7,500 community-based projects

About Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, headquartered in St. Paul, is Minnesota’s largest statewide social service organization. It employs 2,300 and has services throughout Minnesota’s 87 counties. Last year, the organization provided services to about 100,000 Minnesotans. The organization began in 1865, and is now owned by the six Minnesota Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its Web site is www.lssmn.org.

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,591 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.