9.19.2005 ET

(CSRwire) MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2005--Best Buy is accepting applications for its third annual te@ch ("teach") program until September 30. Te@ch awards more than $3.5 million to schools where teachers make learning fun by using interactive technology in their classrooms. The program is open to all accredited public and private nonprofit K-12 schools nationwide, located within 50 miles of a U.S. Best Buy store.

Each of the 1,200 schools selected for the award will receive a $2,500 te@ch gift card. Of those 1,200 schools, 36 will be recognized for exemplary programs with an additional $15,000 award, and one of the 36 school districts represented will be selected to win a $250,000 award.

Since launching te@ch in 2003, Best Buy has awarded nearly $6 million to more than 2,300 schools nationwide. This year's award amount is an increase of nearly 25 percent from the 2004 program.

"Teachers have told us that students learn more - and often have more fun - when they use technology in classrooms," said Paula Prahl, vice president of public affairs for Best Buy. "Best Buy wants to make that happen more for the schools in our communities. With te@ch, we can share our expertise, giving schools a chance to purchase what they need and connecting our employees with the schools to help them implement the technology."

For example, te@ch was the solution in 2004 for an Illinois music teacher who needed support for her technology-enhanced music lab. She wanted 30 fully-equipped music stations, including computers, MIDI piano keyboards and software, to allow students to learn at various levels of musical talent. With the help of te@ch, the school today has 27 of the 30 needed music stations. Courtney Capeling, a manager from a Best Buy store in Illinois, helped the teacher complete her innovative vision.

A school from New York won a Best Buy gift card, and store employee Geo Donahue became a regular volunteer following the school's involvement with te@ch. After helping students download pictures and create slide shows for classroom presentations, Donahue realized he could help with more projects. He now volunteers each month to teach students more technology skills, including electronic scrapbooking for presentations.

Te@ch applications and guidelines and can be found at www.BestBuy.com/teach. Applications must be submitted online by Sept.30. Winners will be notified and awards will be posted mid-January 2006 at www.BestBuy.com/teach.

About Best Buy's Community Connection

As a community partner, Best Buy works to encourage ideas and to confront challenges. Through its many philanthropic activities, Best Buy extends its support in times of celebration and in times of need.

Last year Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation donated $19 million to its communities (approximately 1.5 percent of its prior fiscal year's pretax earnings). The company encourages local volunteerism by providing charitable gifts to organizations where employees volunteer, awards annual scholarships to graduating high-school seniors, and supports schools using technology to enhance learning through the Best Buy te@ch program. The company also connects with the United Way to meet local community needs, works with the Red Cross to provide support in times of disaster, and supports national organizations innovatively using technology in youth education. In addition, Best Buy is committed to environmental responsibility. Last year, the company collected and recycled nearly 1 million pounds of used and obsolete electronic items though special mass collection events and everyday collection of cellular phones, ink jet cartridges and rechargeable batteries. For more information about Best Buy's community relations efforts, visit www.BestBuy.com/CommunityRelations.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is an innovative Fortune 100 growth company that continually strives to create superior customer experiences. Through more than 840 retail stores across the United States and in Canada, our employees connect customers with technology and entertainment products and services that make life easier and more fun. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services. A Minneapolis-based company, our operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com and BestBuy.ca), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca) and Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com). We support our communities through employee volunteerism and grants from The Best Buy Children's Foundation.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

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