MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2005--Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) has awarded a total of $2 million in te@ch Emergency Response grants to 955 K-12 schools across the U.S. The grants are designed to help schools with increased enrollment of students displaced by the hurricanes.

The te@ch Emergency Response grants are presented as Best Buy gift cards to schools that can be applied toward improving the classroom experience this year for all students. Gift cards have been awarded in amounts up to $5,000 per school.

"Thousands of schools nationwide have more students in the classrooms than originally anticipated at the start of this school year," said Paula Prahl, vice president, public affairs, Best Buy. "We believe we can best serve these schools by bridging technology and education to improve the classroom experience this year for all children."

An additional $1 million has been earmarked for an additional round of te@ch Emergency Response grants. Principals and teachers of schools with displaced students may apply online at www.bestbuy.com; applications will be accepted through January 15, 2006, with gift cards awarded to schools in mid-February 2006.

About the Community Commitment of Best Buy

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. In fiscal 2005, Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation donated 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. Best Buy works with the Red Cross to provide support in times of disaster, including a donation of more than $2 million for its Disaster Relief Fund in response to Hurricane Katrina. The company also connects with the United Way to meet local community needs, 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 the Best Buy 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 870 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

Best Buy Company, Inc.

Best Buy Company, Inc.

Giving back to our communities is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. Whether it’s funding innovative programs that make learning fun for kids, providing te@ch awards to K-12 schools each year, supporting the United Way and American Red Cross, or mobilizing TagTeam volunteers throughout the country, we are privileged to help strengthen our communities.

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