Wal-Mart Stores increased its charitable giving in the United States by 8 percent last year, reports the Associated Press.

The company said it donated $296.2-million last year. That followed a year in which Wal-Mart increased donations by 10 percent.

Wal-Mart said donations overseas grew sharply — rising by 50 percent, to $41-million.

The company has said that its profits rose last year by 12 percent.

Wal-Mart gave more cash donations in 2005 and 2006 than any other large company that provided data in The Chronicle’s annual survey of corporate donations.

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