THURSDAY: NASCAR star Tony Stewart to donate backpacks to Atlanta-area kids

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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 Chevy Impala SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, headlines a very special event at a local Atlanta Office Depot store. Stewart, a 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:
*         Karen E. Rogers, Director, City of Atlanta Weed and Seed, representing Mayor Shirley Franklin
*         Georgia State Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague

Organizations scheduled to receive backpack donations include:

*         Allen Rossum's Healthy Kids Klub
*         Atlanta Public Schools
*         Atlanta Weed & Seed
*         CaringWorks
*         CHRIS Kids Inc.
*         City of Refuge
*         Communities In Schools of Atlanta
*         Easter Seals North Georgia
*         Hines Ward's Helping Hands Foundation
*         Ron Clark Academy
*         Safehouse Outreach
*         Walter F. White Elementary School
*         Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence


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 Atlanta area children in need.

                        During the event, Stewart will assist the Foundation in donating more than 4,000 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
                        2625 Piedmont Road (Buckhead Crossing Shopping Center)
                        Atlanta, GA 30324

WHEN:          Thursday, September 3, 2009
*         Backpack donation presentations: 4:00-4:45 p.m. local time (not open to general public)
*         Autograph session w/Tony Stewart: 4:45-5:30 p.m. local time (open to general public - see details below).

NOTES:         Stewart will sign autographs for 250 fans at the event. Wristbands are required for the autograph session and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the Office Depot store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event (Thursday, September 3).

PHOTOS:      -  Tony Stewart presenting backpacks to local children and organizations
        -  The No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice show car
        -  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.