FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2007--Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc., a private foundation created by Staples, Inc., (NASDAQ: SPLS) announced today it has awarded 32 grants totaling more than $295,000 to non-profit organizations throughout the country. These organizations were selected because of their commitment to providing educational and job skill programs that help disadvantaged youth develop the skills necessary to become responsible adults and community leaders.

"Staples Foundation for Learning's mission is to support organizations throughout the country that help young people realize their full potential," said Ron Sargent, president of Staples Foundation for Learning and chairman and chief executive officer of Staples, Inc. "From career preparation to literacy development programs, the organizations supported by Staples Foundation for Learning make an impact by helping youth develop into the leaders of tomorrow."

This quarter's grant recipients include:

-- Actor's Shakespeare Theater, Cambridge, MA --- $5,000 to the Macbeth Residency program that enhances low-income student engagement and learning through the study of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

-- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta, GA --- $5,000 to the Talent Development program that encourages talented African-American and Latino students to pursue careers in classical music.

-- Bay Cove Human Services, Boston, MA --- $5,000 to the Career Development program that provides support services to youth with emotional and learning disabilities.

-- Center for Summer Learning, Baltimore, MD --- $15,000 to National Summer Learning Day which celebrates and promotes high-quality summer learning programs for students around the country.

-- Children's Museum, Seattle, WA --- $10,000 to the Passport to Play program that enriches the lives of homeless youth by providing them with free access to educational enrichment services.

-- Citizen Schools, New Brunswick, NJ --- $10,000 to the Citizens Schools New Jersey Network program that provides middle school students with apprenticeships that develop their teamwork, leadership and job skills.

-- City Year Chicago, Chicago, IL --- $5,000 to a literacy program that enriches and supports the learning environment of Chicago Public Schools.

-- Crayons to Computers, Cincinnati, OH --- $15,000 to the Push for Pencils program that provides free school supplies to teachers in low-income communities.

-- Crittenton Community Centers, Phoenix, AZ --- $10,000 to the Service Learning program that motivates at-risk students to achieve success through innovative, experiential educational activities.

-- Denver Zoological Foundation, Denver, CO --- $10,000 to the Wonders in Nature program that exposes low-income youth to wildlife through environmental education and experiences.

-- The Education Fund, Miami, FL --- $10,000 to the Great American Teach-A-Thon program that increases student academic achievement and advocates for improved teaching quality.

-- The Enterprise Center, Philadelphia, PA --- $5,000 to the Youth + Entrepreneurship = Success program that develops underserved youth into entrepreneurs through business and financial literacy education.

-- Family Care Center Volunteer Board, Lexington, KY --- $10,000 to the New Leaf Project that helps teenage mothers increase their employability through job skills training.

-- Fugees Family, Inc., Decatur, GA --- $10,000 to the Fugees Academy program that prepares African refugee youth to succeed academically.

-- Goodwill Industries of the Heartland, Iowa City, IA --- $11,732 to the Retail Skills Training program that increases future job opportunities for high school students with disabilities.

-- Great Books Foundation, Chicago, IL --- $10,000 to the Readers to Leaders program that develops disadvantaged high school students' leadership skills and exposes them to careers in teaching.

-- Greening of Detroit, Detroit, MI --- $5,000 to the Green Corps program that creates employment opportunities for Detroit youth through environmental work experiences.

-- Literacy, Inc., New York, NY --- $10,000 to the Teen Tutors Reading Partners program that improves the future success of underserved youth by increasing their literacy skills.

-- Mentoring Today for Tomorrow, Murrieta, CA --- $10,000 to the After-School Mentoring program that matches youth with adult role models who help with character development.

-- MetroWest YMCA, Framingham, MA --- $20,000 to the Summer Camps & Out-of-School Time programs that provide low-income children with a safe and positive learning environment.

-- Motheread, Inc., Raleigh, NC --- $20,000 to the Story Exploring program that provides training to parents, teachers and early childhood educators to ensure children grow-up in literacy-rich environments.

-- National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Los Angeles, CA --- $20,000 to the LA Schools Entrepreneurial Initiative that teaches entrepreneurship to young people from low-income communities.

-- Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation, Columbia, SC --- $5,000 to the Writing Awards program that increases the literacy skills of youth throughout South Carolina.

-- The Pangaea Project, Portland, OR --- $4,000 to the Pangaea Project that transforms low-income youth into globally aware, local community leaders through service projects.

-- Project R.I.S.E., Boston, MA --- $5,000 to the Summer Programs that build the self-esteem and academic achievements of inner-city, low-income youth.

-- ProLiteracy Worldwide, Syracuse, NY --- $10,000 to the National Book Scholarship Fund that increases the literacy skills of youth to ensure they achieve academic, career and personal success.

-- Reed Academy, Garfield, NJ --- $5,000 to the Home-Based Community and Life Skills Training program that empowers children with autism to achieve greater independence and become contributing members of society.

-- Salem State College Foundation, Salem, MA --- $5,000 to the Making Music Together program that enhances the education of youth through exposure to music.

-- SOS Children's Villages, Coconut Creek, FL --- $10,000 to the Children Achieve program that improves the academic performance of foster children.

-- Upstream Arts, Minneapolis, MN --- $5,000 to the Arts Education program that exposes youth with disabilities to art to increase their life skills.

-- Urban Alliance Foundation, Washington, DC --- $5,000 to the High School Internships program that enables students to become self-sufficient through education, mentoring and paid internships.

-- Youth Achievement Foundation, Plano, TX --- $10,000 to the Mentoring and Education program that enables disadvantaged youth to become college-educated and socially responsible community leaders.

About Staples Foundation for Learning

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc. is to teach, train and inspire. Founded in 2002, the foundation has contributed nearly $11.5 million to national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning has also developed lasting relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Earth Force, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. In addition, Staples Foundation for Learning supports Ashoka, an organization that develops and supports social entrepreneurs around the world, in eight countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United States. For more information about the foundation or how to apply for a grant, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Staples, Inc.

Staples, Inc.

About Staples Staples, Inc. invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today is the world's largest office products company. With 74,000 talented associates, the company is committed to making it easy to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2006 sales of $18.2 billion, Staples serves consumers and businesses ranging from home-based businesses to Fortune 500 companies in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates more than 1,900 office superstores and also serves its customers through mail order catalog, e-commerce and contract businesses. More information is available at www.staples.com

Staples Soul Staples Soul reflects Staples’ commitment to corporate responsibility, embodying what it means to embrace diversity, sustain the environment, give back to communities and practice sound ethics. For more information, visit www.staples.com/soul

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