SEPTEMBER 30: NASCAR star Tony Stewart to donate backpacks to Kansas City-area children

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CONTACT:
Lisa Schmitz
Edelman for Office Depot Racing
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 Kansas City Office Depot store. Stewart, a two-time Sprint Cup Series champion, will help provide local children with the tools they need to succeed in school.

Other special guests include:
*         Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser

Organizations scheduled to receive backpack donations include:

*         Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City
*         Guadalupe Centers
*         North Kansas City Schools
*         Operation Breakthrough
*         United Inner City Services
*         Youth Friends


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 Kansas City area children in need.

                        During the event, Stewart will assist the Foundation in donating more than 2,200 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
                        4851 North Oak Traffic Way (in North Oak Village Plaza)
                        Kansas City, MO  64118

WHEN:          Wednesday, September 30, 2009
*         Backpack donation presentations: 4:00-4:45 p.m. local time (not open to general public)
*         Autograph session w/Tony Stewart: 4:45-5:45 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 above Kansas City Office Depot store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event (Wednesday, September 30).

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.