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Kansas City, Mo. School District Receives $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award; District Garners Teach Program Top Honor for Exceptional, Creative Use of Technology to Make Learning Fun for K-12 Students

Kansas City, Mo. School District Receives $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award; District Garners Teach Program Top Honor for Exceptional, Creative Use of Technology to Make Learning Fun for K-12 Students

Published 08-14-06

Submitted by Best Buy Company, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2006--The Kansas City, Mo. School District (KCMSD) is the 2006 recipient of the $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award for demonstrating exceptional creative use of interactive technology to help make learning fun for its K-12 students.

The district was selected for the top honor based on the strength of its ROOTS (Reaching Out with Opportunities in Technology for Students) program, a district-wide initiative to deliver more authentic learning experiences for students through use of consumer electronics. The $250,000 Teach Award will fund the initial implementation of ROOTS at three KCMSD schools.

"We believe technology will empower our students to become lifelong learners and contributing citizens of an ever-changing global society," said Anthony Amato, superintendent, KCMSD. "We're thrilled that Best Buy is helping us achieve this mission in a very big way."

KCMSD was invited to apply for the $250,000 award after one of its schools, J.S. Chick Elementary, received a $15,000 Teach Award in January 2006 for "Listen to Our Elders," an oral history classroom project that explores the African American experience through the stories of people in the students' lives. Through its Teach Awards, the school has incorporated a full spectrum of digital media technologies and recruited both youth and adult volunteer instructors.

"We're proud to help teachers across the nation implement the kind of technology their students need to be successful both in school and the professional world," said Paula Prahl, vice president, public affairs, Best Buy. "Best Buy knows that the need for classrooms to incorporate the latest technology is great, not only to help studentsnbe as prepared as possible for higher education and beyond, but tonmake learning more fun and interactive. The Kansas City, Mo. School District is a fine example of an innovative school district determined to create a better classroom experience."

Earlier this year, 1,200 classrooms across the U.S. received a $2,500 Teach Award for creative use of technology to make learning funnfor its students. Additionally, 36 schools each received an additional $15,000 Teach Award for exceptional learning programs. Each district of those 36 schools was invited to apply for the $250,000 Teach Award, of which the KCMSD was selected as best in class.

Since 2003, the Teach program has awarded more than $10 million to K-12 schools across the U.S., and serves as the cornerstone of the community and philanthropic work of Best Buy. Winning schools may use their Teach Awards to purchase additional consumer technology at Best Buy to extend, expand, or enhance current and future classroom curricula.

In 2006 alone, Teach Awards totaled $3.75 million, with more than 7,000 applications received from classrooms nationwide. A list of all 2006 Teach Award-winning schools can be found at www.BestBuy.com/teach.

Applications for the 2007 te@ch awards are now being accepted online at www.BestBuy.com/teach. All accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within 50 miles of a U.S. Best Buy store are eligible; completed applications must be received by September 30, 2006.

About the Best Buy Community Commitment

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 2006, Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation donated $30 million to its communities. 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 in fiscal 2006 for its Disaster Relief Fund. Additionally, Best Buy earmarked $8 million to help "reboot and rebuild" schools damaged, destroyed, or overcapacity after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 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 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 940 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 2006

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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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