OFFICE DEPOT TEAMS UP WITH MIAMI MARLINS FOUNDATION TO HELP MIAMI-AREA KIDS GET READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Four Miami Schools to Receive 1,000 Sackpacks during ‘Back-to-School Day’

Sponsored by Office Depot during Miami Marlins Game on August 12

Miami, Fla., August 8, 2012- Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, and the Office Depot Foundation are teaming up with the Miami Marlins Foundation to help Miami-area kids get ready to head back to school. As part of the special event at Marlins Park, the Office Depot Foundation is donating 1,000 new sackpacks containing essential school supplies during a pre-game ceremony for Office Depot “Back-to-School Day” featuring the Miami Marlins versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, August 12.*

 The 1,000 brand new sackpacks will be distributed by the Marlins Foundation to four Miami-Dade County Public (Title I) Schools: Bent Tree Elementary, Citrus Grove Elementary, Ben Sheppard Elementary, and Frederick Douglass Elementary.  

 Also part of “Back-to-School Day” at Marlins Park, the Office Depot Foundation is hosting 100 children at the game from Amigos For Kids, a Miami-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect by valuing children, strengthening families and educating communities. In addition, they will receive 600 sackpacks.

 Through its National Backpack Program, which is now in its 12th year, the Office Depot Foundation is helping children prepare for school by donating 400,000 sackpacks across the United States and internationally – the most ever in a single year. The sturdy, specially designed sackpacks come in seven different color combinations with kid-friendly graphics. By the end of 2012, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation will have helped more than 2.9 million children since the inception of the program in 2001.

 “Children, parents and teachers tell us about the impact these sackpacks and school supplies have on them as they head back to school,” said Mary Wong, President of the Office Depot Foundation. “It’s very gratifying to know that children at four schools in Miami and involved with Amigos For Kids will be able to go to school with essential supplies just like their friends with these new sackpacks.”   

 Special Activities for Fans

All fans attending the August 12 “Back-to-School Day” game presented by Office Depot will be treated to some fun activities taking place at the WestPlaza just outside the ballpark. From 11:00 a.m. until game time, fans can have their photo taken with three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet show car, and meet Billy the Marlin and the Marlins’ sea creatures. The first 5,000 children to enter the ballpark receive a new binder courtesy of Office Depot. Just prior to the start of the game, a ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Office Depot Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Michael Allison.