Yet it was Wal-Mart's more than 15,000 Utah employees - and the customers of its 42 stores and warehouse clubs in the state - who really demonstrated their generosity. They contributed $1.1 million through personal donations and company-sponsored fundraising activities - a nearly 28 percent increase over the previous year.

"Our associates always have been tremendously supportive of their communities and the company's charitable efforts," Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg said.

The world largest retailer said last year it contributed $2.6 million in cash and in-kind donations to Utah charities and community organizations.

However, that figure doesn't include the more than $34 million the company contributed to the Utah-based Children's Miracle Network, a national organization that provides financial support for about 170 children's hospitals, including Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.

"They have been one of our big supporters for 20 years," said Shirley Rogers, senior vice president of development for Children's Miracle Network. "And over that 20 years, we've received more than $400 million in donations from them."

Wal-Mart's figures indicate that of the $273 million it gave last year in the U.S., about $250 million was in cash. The rest - $23 million - reflected in-kind donations. Its employees and customers donated another $100 million.

Nationally, Wal-Mart was ranked as the top cash donor in 2005 by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper that tracks corporate charitable giving. While the 2006 numbers have yet to be compiled, the publication's spokesman Evan Goldstein, said Wal-Mart is expected to retain its ranking.

"They've been on the top for a number of few years now," he said.

Data provided by The Chronicle of Philanthropy projects that once 2006 figures are compiled, 75 percent of major corporations either will have increased their charitable giving or held their contributions to the same level as the previous year.

Wal-Mart critics - those who have attacked the company for what many contend are its low wages and unaffordable health care insurance - argue that the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer's charitable efforts hide a company with a cold heart.

"Charity is fine, but what isn't okay is paying your employees such low wages that they have to rely on charity themselves to make ends meet," said Joey Caputo, a Wal-Mart critic and activist associated with Utah Jobs with Justice. "There are thousands and thousands of Wal-Mart employees [nationwide] who need food stamps, housing and other assistance just to get by."

Wal-Mart, however, argues that its wages are competitive with its retail competitors, and that it provides affordable health care insurance to its workforce.

Regardless of their wages - Wal-Mart says its average pay for regular, full-time employees in Utah is $10.29 per hour, or about $21,000 a year - company workers dig deep into their pockets to help those less fortunate.

Although United Way of Salt Lake City spokesman Bryson Despain declined to discuss Wal-Mart's monetary contributions to his organization, he indicated a $3 million donation would be considered sizeable just about anywhere.

"I can say that every Wal-Mart store in Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele and Davis counties participate with United Way," he said.

Wal-Mart said its U.S. donations went to groups such as the National Teacher of the Year program, the Children's Miracle Network and the Salvation Army.

Lundberg noted that most donations, however, take place on the local level with the individual stores choosing the charities they want to support. "They get to pick the issues and causes that are important to their neighborhoods."

steve@sltrib.com