JULY 23: NASCAR star Tony Stewart to donate backpacks to Indianapolis-area kids

CONTACT:                                           

Lisa Schmitz

Edelman

312-240-2604 (office)

773-459-5337 (mobile)

lisa.schmitz@edelman.com


MEDIA ALERT


 

WHO:             Tony Stewart, NASCAR star and driver of the No. 14
Office Depot/Old Spice "Back-To-School" Chevy Impala SS in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series, headlines a very special event at a local
Indianapolis Office Depot store. Stewart, an Indiana native and two-time
Sprint Cup Series champion, will be helping local kids get ready to head
back to school with the tools they need to succeed.

                

Other special guests include:

*         Kim Preston, Director of Education and Workforce Initiatives,
City of Indianapolis/Marion County, representing Mayor Gregory Ballard

*         Gary S. Coons, Trustee, Perry Township

*         Katherine Blane, Office Manager, representing U.S. Senator
Richard Lugar

*         Joni Thompson, Executive Director, Tony Stewart Foundation

*         Jay Hein, President and CEO, The Sagamore Institute 

 

Organizations scheduled to receive backpack donations include:

 

*         Bridges to Success, United Way of Central Indiana 

*         Children's Bureau, Inc.

*         Covering Kids & Families

*         Metropolitan School District of Perry Township

*         Indianapolis Public Schools

*         Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust

 

WHAT:           Stewart is partnering with Office Depot and the Office
Depot Foundation for a special "Back To School Celebration" to donate
backpacks containing essential school supplies to Indianapolis area
children in need.

 

                        During the event, Stewart will assist the
Foundation in donating 5,000 backpacks to representatives from local
organizations and schools as part of the Office Depot Foundation's
National Backpack Program. This year marks a milestone for the
Foundation as it will donate its 2-millionth backpack since beginning
the program in 2001. The Foundation donates backpacks across the United
States and Canada in an effort to help kids succeed in school. 

 

Note to media:  These backpacks are not available to the general public.
The backpacks are being donated only to the designated organizations
named above.

 

WHERE:        Office Depot

                        4200 South East Street (at I-465)

                        Indianapolis, IN 46227

 

WHEN:          Thursday, July 23, 2009 

*         Backpack donation presentations: 2:00-3:00 p.m. local time
(not open to general public)

*         Autograph session w/Tony Stewart: 3:00-4:00 p.m. local time
(open to general public - see details below).

 

NOTES:         Stewart will sign autographs for 350 fans at the event.
Wristbands are required for the autograph session and will be
distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the Indianapolis
Office Depot store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the
event (Thursday, July 23).

 

PHOTOS:      -  Tony Stewart presenting backpacks to local children and
organizations

        -  The No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice show car featuring a
special back-to-school paint scheme

        -  Stewart signing autographs for fans

 

MEDIA:          Tony Stewart will be available for one-on-one interviews
at the event. Please contact Lisa Schmitz at 312-240-2604 or 
lisa.schmitz@edelman.com to schedule an interview with Stewart.