Published 07-06-05
Submitted by Office Depot, Inc.
WHO: Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, will host the Company's 12th Annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts across North America throughout July and August. The events are designed to provide a venue for area teachers to network and prepare for the new school year.
Store Managers at every Office Depot retail store location in the U.S. and Canada (with the exception of two stores in New York City and one in Minneapolis, Minn.) will play host to the more than 100,000 teachers expected to attend the events. Office Depot has more than 1,000 retail store locations.
WHAT:This is the 12th consecutive year Office Depot has hosted
Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts. Teachers will have the opportunity to network, shop and plan for the upcoming school year. Last year more than 100,000 teachers and administrators participated.
WHERE: Office Depot retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
WHEN:Breakfast events take place every Saturday from July 16 through August 27.
Beginning today, teachers and administrators can visit www.school.com to find out the date, location and time for the scheduled breakfast in their community. (Teachers can learn the date, address and time for a breakfast event in their area by entering their zip code.)
WHY: The event is held each year to recognize and honor teachers for their hard work, and most importantly to thank them for their commitment to children--America's future.
VISUALS: Teachers enjoying breakfast, discussing plans for the upcoming school year and shopping!
Participating Star Teachers Receive:
All teachers are welcome to attend and will have the opportunity to enroll in Office Depot's Star Teacher program at the breakfast if they are not already enrolled.
Office Depot 5% Back to Schools Programs:
An industry leader during the Back to School shopping period, Office Depot offers many programs to help kids and teachers prepare for the new school year. Now in its sixth year, the Company's "5% Back To Schools" Program enables customers to select a local school to receive a 5% credit toward "FREE SUPPLIES" for qualifying back-to-school purchases. In 2004, nearly $2 million in merchandise credits were awarded to schools around the country. Since the program's inception in 2000, Office Depot has awarded 36,000 schools over $10 million in merchandise credits.
Office Depot Star Teacher Program:
Pre-K through 12th Grade classroom teachers can participate in the Office Depot Star Teacher Program. Members receive an immediate discount on qualifying in-store purchases, an immediate discount on Copy, Print and Ship Center Services and quarterly Advantage Rewards for all qualifying purchases. Other program benefits include special event invitations, members-only offers, access to detailed monthly purchases online and dedicated Member Service Representatives.
Kids In Need Teacher Grants Program/Office Depot Sponsorship:
Office Depot is also the National Sponsor of the 2005/2006 Kids In Need Teacher Grants Program. The program, spearheaded by SHOPA, provides K-12 educators with the opportunity to apply for funding to help them realize their dreams of providing innovative learning opportunities for students in their classrooms. Teacher Grant awards range from $100-$500. The program is open to all K-12 Teachers. Winners are selected by members of the Kids in Need Foundation's Teacher Grants Committee.
Applications will be available at all Office Depot retail stores, beginning July 15, 2005, and posted on Office Depot's Community Relations Web site at www.community.officedepot.com or by visiting www.kidsinneed.net.
National Backpack Program:
Office Depot also understands that the Back-To-School season can be particularly stressful for children, parents and teachers. In recognition of the fact that many families have a difficult time ensuring their children have what they need to start the school year; Office Depot launched its National Backpack Program in 2001.
This national charitable program has one primary goal: To help children succeed by providing them with the basic supplies they need on their first day of school.
Office Depot will distribute 300,000 backpacks with school supplies in 2005, a 100,000 increase from 2004. Since the inception of the program (including this year's donation), Office Depot will have placed more than 880,000 backpacks in the hands of "at-risk" children across North America.
Copyright Business Wire 2005
Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of nearly $15 billion, and employs approximately 50,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.
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