Big Lots and Boys + Girls Clubs of America Announce 2005 Charitable Donation

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Retailer Sponsors Six Learning Centers and Launches Back-to-School Program

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Big Lots, the nation's
largest broadline closeout retailer, is once again joining forces with Boys +
Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to help foster positive life values for the
nation's youth.
"Big Lots' generosity is helping us to reach more young people than ever
before," said Roxanne Spillett, president of BGCA. Big Lots, a Fortune
500 company, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLI.COM, Inc.1800flowers .com).

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1-800-FLOWERS.
Jim McCann, CEO, said "The Mother's Day holiday is traditionally
one of our busiest periods and we are very pleased with the strong
growth we achieved this year.plowandhearth .

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Boys + Girls Clubs of America ( http://www. 1-800-FLOWERS. The
1-800-FLOWERS.

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"The learning centers have
proven to be a hit with our Club members, providing them with a great
environment to socialize, strengthen friendships, and focus on their studies. Five regional closeout distribution centers ranging
in size from 1 million to 3 million square feet and two furniture distribution
centers provide the company's stores with brand-name products from more than
3,000 manufacturers.
They are attracted to our broad range of great gifts, appropriate for
moms and anyone else on their list -- everything from flowers and
plants, to towers of delicious baked gifts, candy, gourmet and spa
baskets, and exclusive gifts from our premier branded partners, such
as Lenox, Waterford, Godiva and others.COM(R)

For more than 25 years, 1-800-FLOWERS. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

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Existing and new learning center clubs will receive a special back-
to-school delivery from Big Lots -- new backpacks filled with $20.
"We are committed to making a difference where it matters -- in the
communities we serve," said Kent Larsson, senior vice president of marketing
for Big Lots. We hope these tools will improve the lives of young people and help
them realize exciting and successful futures await them.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots operates more than 1,500 retail
stores serving 46 states.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM Reports Record Order Volume for Mother's Day Holiday

com); premium popcorn and specialty treats from The
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00 Big Lots
gift cards.----1-800-FLOWERS.

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Young people can use the gift cards at their local Big Lots store
to purchase school supplies or other needed family items ."
Big Lots has been an avid supporter of BGCA since 2002, when the company
launched "Values for Life," a program to help BGCA construct state-of-the-art
learning centers and renovate existing Clubs around the country.

Company delivered more than 950,000 floral arrangements and
gift plants plus tens of thousands of gourmet and spa gift
baskets, baked gifts, candy and colorful tins of popcorn. We believe these choices,
combined with our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and our ability
to deliver gifts same day, any day -- even on Mother's Day Sunday --
resonates with our customers, and will enable us to continue to build
on our leadership position within the thoughtful gift category. Customers
can shop 1-800-FLOWERS.

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"Whether we are providing a learning center or a backpack and
gift card, we are empowering young people to realize their dreams and their
potential.com ) is the nation's
largest broadline closeout retailer with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion. Known as
"The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character
development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted
by a full-time professional staff.greatfood.com); children's gifts from HearthSong(R)
(www.

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Big Lots offers merchandise on average at 20 to 40
percent below most discount retailers and up to 70 percent below conventional
retailers . Gift advisors are available
24/7, and fast and reliable delivery is offered same day, any day.

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The learning centers provide safe, positive
places where young people can go after school to do homework , use computers,
and participate in educational activities.
The learning centers are designed with the unique needs of each Club in
mind from planning to completion and include items like computers , software
and educational games, and other focused learning activities.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

The statements in this press release regarding current and future
expectations involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
applicable statements. For a more
detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to
the Company's SEC filings including the Company 's Annual Report on
Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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Boys + Girls Clubs provide supervised and structured educational,
athletic, and social programs to more than 4.Y.COM as their `Florist of Choice,' for an
expanding range of their gifting needs, both local and long-distance . As
always, 100 percent satisfaction and freshness is guaranteed.

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org ) comprises a national
network of some 3,700 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving more than
4.

com) or by visiting a
Company-operated or franchised store.com);
exceptional cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl+Co .

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New learning centers will be opening at Clubs in Buffalo, Las Vegas, Orlando,
Phoenix, Sacramento , and Toledo."
This year, Big Lots will introduce a new component to the charitable
program .(R) (1-800-443-8124
or wwwcherylandco. stock is traded on the
NASDAQ market under ticker symbol FLWS. The Company expressly
disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward
looking statements made in this release or in any of its SEC filings
except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.

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bgca. -- "Your Florist of
Choice(SM)" -- has been providing customers across the nation with the
freshest flowers and finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet
foods and confections , and plush stuffed animals perfect for every
occasion.

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4 million young people each year.COM(R) offers the best of both worlds:
exquisite, florist-designed arrangements individually created by some
of the nation's top floral artists and hand-delivered the same day,
and spectacular flowers shipped Fresh From Our Growers(SM).

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Key Boys + Girls Club programs emphasize
character and leadership development , education and career development, health
and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation . (NASDAQ: FLWS), a leading multi-channel
retailer of thoughtful gifts for all occasions, today reported record
order volume for the 2005 Mother's Day holiday season.com); gourmet foods from GreatFood.

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As part of its ongoing "Values for Life" program, the company
has pledged to open six state-of-the-art learning centers this fall, provide
upgrades to five existing learning centers and, as a new program component,
distribute backpacks filled with gift cards to promote a healthy start to the
school year to as many as 800 children at 11 Boys + Girls Clubs. A special
interactive high-energy dance party will take place at the grand opening of
each of the six new learning centers.S.COM(R), Inc . In addition, because of its unique same-day fulfillment
capabilities, the Company was able to take and deliver thousands of
orders on Mother's Day Sunday.

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These
learning centers are located in Clubs in Long Beach (Calif. Since the
beginning of the program, Big Lots has opened five learning centers and
distributed 600 educational grants.
Big Lots, Inc.4 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances.thepopcornfactory.

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Online orders represented more than 75 percent of total
combined online and telephonic orders. During the
Mother's Day holiday period (4/25-5/8) the Company handled more than
1,150,000 customer orders.COM 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the phone
or Internet (1-800-356-9377 or www. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to: the Company's ability to achieve solid, sustainable
revenue growth; its ability to maintain and enhance profit margins for
its various products; its ability to provide timely fulfillment of
customer orders; its ability to cost effectively acquire and retain
customers; its ability to compete against existing and new
competitors; its ability to manage expenses associated with sales and
marketing and necessary general and administrative and technology
investments; its ability to cost efficiently manage inventories; its
ability to leverage its operating infrastructure; and general consumer
sentiment and economic conditions that may affect levels of
discretionary customer purchases of the Company's products.

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The five existing learning centers opened within the past three years with
Big Lots' support will be revisited to assess and provide safe environments
with up-to-date equipment and materials to help members learn and grow. Founded in 1967, the company employs more than 45,000 associates
across the U."

About 1-800-FLOWERS.ambrosiawine.

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Complete with dance contests, food and
lots of prizes, Club members will enjoy an afternoon with friends and Club
staff as they celebrate their center's opening.

Business Editors

WESTBURY, N. (NASDAQ: FLWS)

Peak shopping period (4/25/05-5/8/04) orders reached
approximately 1 ,150,000. On its peak business days leading up to the
holiday, the Company processed an average of more than 195,000 orders
per day. We continue to see our customers
embracing 1-800-FLOWERS.COM collection of brands also includes home decor and
garden merchandise from Plow + Hearth(R) (1-800 -627-1712 or
www.

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With the help of BGCA designers, posters
focusing on back-to-school and college readiness were designed and have been
distributed to more than 3,000 Boys + Girls Clubs across the country. By creating excitement with brand-name closeouts and bargains
through a unique shopping experience, Big Lots meets the needs of customers by
providing an assortment of merchandise including consumables, seasonal
products, furniture and home, housewares, toys, and gifts.COM Inc.com(R)
(www.

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"Values
for Life" is the first-ever planned giving effort for Big Lots and represents
a multi -year, seven-figure investment. (NYSE: http://www.magiccabin.