Today, Jordin Sparks demonstrated an easy way for every teen to be an American Idol – with no singing skills required.
Sparks joined hundreds of teen volunteers gathered at the Staples Center in support of Do Something 101, a campaign to collect school supplies for students in need, created by DoSomething.org and Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS).
“This summer, Do Something teens rallied to bring tens of thousands of dollars worth of office supplies to Staples store collection points,” said Sparks. “Today’s event is a reminder that the weeks leading up to back to school is a great time to join Do Something 101 and help supply students in need.”
Along with Sparks, celebrities including Varsity Fan Club, KayCee Stroh, Tyler Stokes, Michael Petersen, Lauren Storm and Alexandra Krosney traded microphones and stage lights for notebooks and binders as they joined forces to stuff 5,000 bags with pens, calculators and binders that will be distributed to local teens, just in time for back to school. Today’s event is just one of many to be held throughout the country as the drive continues building momentum.
Every binder and highlighter counts toward a successful back to school for the more than 11 million children in the United States lacking basic school supplies. Launched in July with a $50,000 donation, Do Something 101 gives teens a chance to make this summer count for more than endless text messages and golden tans. By simply donating pencils, notebooks and other much-needed items, teens can participate in a national drive that benefits local students in their own communities. These and other supplies are currently being accepted at all Staples locations through Aug. 31.
“The teens who assembled 5,000 kits today for Los Angeles students are role models for their peers and exemplify what it means to give back to their communities,” said Shira Goodman, executive vice president of marketing at Staples. “We hope teens will continue to donate throughout the month, as we know having the right supplies makes for a successful school year.”
Teens who want to make a difference can go to www.dosomething101.com for ideas on how to run local school supply drives. Suggestions include teens holding a movie night and “charging” their friends a backpack filled with school supplies as admission. Also, teens could put together a battle of the bands, car washes or carnivals with people donating school supplies at the entrance. Whether holding a school supply drive at summer camp, during a summer sports league or at a neighborhood block party, Do Something has tips, resources and flyers for how to get started and make the most of every teen’s summer.
About Do Something:
Do Something has been a trusted resource for teenagers who want to make a difference in their communities since 1993. Through original web and mobile content and national call-to-action campaigns, Do Something enables teens to convert their energy and ideas into positive action. Want to make a difference? We can help. www.DoSomething.org.
About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With $27 billion in sales, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.
Contacts:
Jackie Guzman, 561-998-1995
jguzman@tilsonpr.com
or
Staples,
Inc.
Katie Sullivan, 508-253-0879
katie.sullivan@staples.com
