Office Depot Launches ‘Teachers Change Lives. So Can You’ Campaign to Celebrate Educators and Raise Funds for Much-Needed Classroom Supplies

Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products, services, and solutions formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, today announced its “Teachers Change Lives. So Can You” digital campaign to help raise awareness and funds for classroom supplies for teachers. As a thank you to these educators, Office Depot has partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org, a national organization dedicated to collecting and distributing funds to teachers, who in many cases use their own money to purchase classroom supplies to ensure each student has the tools to succeed.

“Teachers Change Lives. So Can You.”

Educators selflessly give to and serve their students. Inspired by their classroom generosity, Office Depot and AdoptAClassroom.org traveled the country to uncover stories of teachers going above and beyond. The campaign documents nine teachers, whom are a small percent of the 3.4 million teachers in K-12 public schools, to illustrate the profound impact and lifelong difference they can make in a child’s life. Each teacher’s story is shared through a digital campaign hosted on Office Depot’s website and shared via #TeachersChangeLives. Join the cause and donate today at officedepot.com/teachers.

The documentary style videos display the teacher’s educational approach and commentary from the students who are now engaged and delighted to be in the classroom. The nine teachers utilize diverse teaching skills in order to make learning fun and fulfilling, which include learning about sustainability from a vertical garden erected in the classroom in The Bronx or utilizing rhyme and lyricism to experience science through hip-hop to building and donating prosthetic limbs out of car parts to understand engineering or a special talents teacher that provides experiences to help students overcome what they think is impossible. These videos can be viewed at http://socialpressofficedepot.com/2014-b-roll-footage/.

“Teachers are true heroes. By utilizing the power of social media to connect with our customers, we hope to raise an even greater awareness about teachers’ needs in the classroom while helping them obtain essential school supplies,” said Tim Rea, executive vice president of marketing for Office Depot. “It’s estimated that teachers spend upwards of $1,000 annually from their own pockets to purchase items for their classrooms. Although the school year is winding down, we want to highlight teachers and their tireless efforts year round.”

1 More than 15 million children in the U.S. cannot afford the supplies they need to succeed in school, a shortfall that nine out of 10 teachers compensate for their students with their own money. The majority of teachers say the best way for individuals and groups to help their school districts is to donate general classroom supplies or funds for classroom supplies.

Through AdoptAClassroom.org, teachers can register their classroom to receive funds from donors nationwide and consumers can make a specific classroom or general donation to off-set classroom costs, which will help secure essential educational tools so the entire class can participate and achieve success. Inspired by educators across the country, Office Depot made a $500,000 donation to Adopt-A-Classroom to assist in off-setting classroom expenses.

Find out how you can support AdoptAClassroom.org and teachers nationwide at officedepot.com/teachers. And, while on the site, register by May 4 to win a $500 Office Depot gift card for you and the teacher in your life.

Through programs like “Teachers Change Lives. So Can You,” Office Depot believes in the value of education and supports teachers, parents and students through a variety of give-back programs, including the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack program that has donated more than three million sackpacks providing essential school supplies to deserving children in classrooms across the country since its inception in 2001, and Office Depot Rewards® and MaxPerks® Teacher Rewards, which are free to join and teachers receive cost savings on essential items including ink, toner, paper, and copy and print products and services.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school, or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.

The company has combined pro forma annual sales of approximately $17 billion, employs over 60,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in 57 countries with more than 2,200 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company’s portfolio of leading brands includes Office Depot, OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy®, Viking®, Ativa®, TUL®, Foray®, and DiVOGA®.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com.

Additional information about the recently completed merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax can be found at http://officedepotmaxmerger.com.

1 Sources: AdoptAClassroom.org and Horace Mann

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140421005646/en/