Third Annual American Heart Association Fundraiser Kicks Off with Goals
                                   Set High

PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Over the next four weeks, customers and employees at Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) will wear their hearts on their sleeves and help raise funds for the American Heart Association's cardiovascular disease and stroke research and education efforts.

Beginning on January 24, all Ross Dress for Less stores will sell red paper hearts to customers and employees for one dollar. Purchase a heart in Ross stores for $1 and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. Paper hearts purchased by shoppers will be posted on the walls of Ross's stores. A donation of $5 will earn supporters a red "Learn and Live"* wristband.

All of the proceeds from sales of the paper hearts and "Learn and Live" bands will directly benefit American Heart Association research and education programs aimed at fighting cardiovascular disease. Donations from Ross Stores for the American Heart Association nearly reached $900,000 in February 2004, and this year the goals are set at more than $1,000,000. Currently, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of both men and women in the United States.

"Each year our employees and customers exceed our expectations. Their enthusiastic response and generous contributions are truly commendable," said Jim Peters, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ross Stores, Inc. "Cardiovascular health is of great concern to all of us, and I'm proud of our support for the American Heart Association's valuable research and education efforts."

The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases devastate millions of people of all ages and kill nearly 950,000 Americans each year. To fight them the association supports research, education and advocacy and helps heart disease and stroke patients. Over 22.5 million American Heart Association volunteers and supporters are at work in their communities helping their friends, neighbors and loved ones live longer, better lives.

About Ross Stores, Inc.

Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation's second-largest off-price company with 2003 revenues of $3.9 billion. Ross Stores, Inc. currently operates 639 Ross Dress for Less stores and ten dd's DISCOUNTS stores. Ross Stores offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices. dd's DISCOUNTS(SM) features a more moderate assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at www.rossstores.com.

*Bands will be available for a limited time while supplies last.

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.
02/01/2005
CONTACT:
media, Laura Hanson of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-415-318-4191,
or
hansonl@fleishman.com, for Ross Stores, Inc.
Web site: http://www.rossstores.com
(ROST)