Hopefully this will help Target's reputation a little:

Minnesota's Target Corporation became the state's largest giver of charitable grants in 2003. Its 96 million dollars in grants helped it surpass the McKnight Foundation for the first time ever.

Target's giving increased more than ten percent in 2003 over the previous year, and it's likely to pay out just as much in 2004.

I think it's a given that all corporations do their parts for their communities in one way or another, so it was puzzling to me that Target was getting criticized so harshly by much of the blogosphere in the weeks preceding Christmas about not allowing the Salvation Army bell-ringers. To me, it's all about freedom of choice; Target didn't want the Salvation Army to position bell-ringers outside their stores, but that alone doesn't make them any less charitable than the companies that did. They still have good deals, they don't censor music (I am looking at you, Wal-Mart), and though they aren't as visible about it (which has undoubtedly damaged their image), they do indeed give back to the community. That makes for an okay company in my book.