Sam's Club Set to Open in Ankeny Thursday

ANKENY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Sam's Club will open its newest location at 4625 SE. Delaware Ave. in Ankeny this Thursday, May 21 following an 8 a.m. grand opening ceremony. The membership warehouse club has brought approximately 160 new jobs to the community and will give residents and small business owners the opportunity to access incredible deals and unexpected finds, just in time for Memorial Day.

The grand opening celebration will focus on the company's commitment to the Ankeny community. Sam's Club associates selected several local non-profit organizations to receive $19,000 in community giving grants. Grant award winners include:

• Food Bank of Iowa
• The Salvation Army
• Ankeny Miracle League
• Ankeny Market & Pavilion
• Project Fresh Start
• Des Moines Area College
• Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce
• Youth Emergency Services and Shelter of Iowa
• Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc.

"Giving back is an important part of our culture at Sam's Club," said Club Manager Paul Howarth. "It's our way of saying thanks for allowing us the opportunity to serve this community. We are proud to be here."

In addition to the financial contributions, the new team of associates has provided volunteer hours to many of these organizations over the past few months. Through the company's Volunteerism Always Pays program, Sam's Club associates can earn charitable contributions for the eligible organizations where they volunteer.

In 2015 alone, Sam's Club associates volunteered nearly 20,000 hours across the state. The company donated more than $1.5 million to non-profit organizations in Iowa, and more than 700,000 pounds of food to area food banks.

Grand opening ceremony features local officials, special events

Ankeny Mayor Gary Lorenz and Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Walter will be among those in attendance at Thursday's grand opening ceremony. The American Legion Albaugh-McGovern Post #42 will present colors and Sam's Club associate Sally McKern will perform the national anthem.

Block Party: ACH Food Companies, Inc. will host a special block party event in the Sam's Club parking lot on grand opening day with music, prizes and free food samples made with Tone's Spices and Weber Seasonings. Then on Friday, Tone's will demonstrate how to cook the perfect ribs for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Special Event: Marvel 3D Printing allows members to transform themselves into personalized 3D characters. This attraction will let attendees get a 3D face scan and cast themselves as a Marvel superhero, available for purchase. This showcase delivers the first-ever mobile personalized merchandise platform for 3D printing that makes fans part of the story.

Free health screenings will be offered to both members and the public by the Sam's Club Pharmacy. Screenings will assess cholesterol, blood pressure, hearing and a variety of other wellness areas, and will run Thursday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free Online Marketing Advice As part of a recently expanded suite of member benefits available to Sam's Club members, experts from Web.com will be on hand at the Ankeny grand opening to talk to small business owners about setting up a website and developing a marketing plan. To learn more about other services available, visit Samsclub.com/services.

Quality products and services help small businesses and busy families

Opening just in time for Memorial Day, this shopper friendly club will be stocked with all the items members need for their Memorial Day celebrations. Members can rely on fresh produce, quality meats, and home meal solutions among the huge selection of merchandise.

The club also boasts an array of service offerings for its members including a Pharmacy, Optical department, Hearing Aid Center, and Travel services. Business members will find services tailored to meet their specific needs like credit card payment processing, mobile payroll and legal services.

Membership Information

A Sam's Club membership is an investment that more than pays for itself. Whether buying for a household or a business, a Sam's Club member can access exclusive savings on merchandise and outstanding benefits. For more information on benefits and pricing, visit SamsClub.com/membership.

Non-members are encouraged to visit the new club and take advantage of a free One-Day Pass available online or in the club at the Member Service Desk.

About Sam's Club

Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. WMT, is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services in 650 clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. To learn more about Savings Made Simple, visit the Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam's Club on Twitter and Facebook.

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