TOMORROW: NASCAR star Tony Stewart to donate 5,000 backpacks to Charlotte-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 Charlotte-area Office Depot store. Stewart, a two-time Sprint Cup Series champion and winner of last week's Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway, will be helping local kids by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in school.

Other special guests include:
*         Pineville Mayor George Fowler and Pineville Mayor Pro-Tem Libby Boatwright
*         Charlotte Mayor Pro-Tem Susan Burgess, representing Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory
*         Peter C. Gorman, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
*         Carrie B. Cook, Charlotte Regional Liaison for U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan
*         Kelly Alexander, North Carolina State Representative
*         Mike Manning, Chief Financial Officer, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

Organizations scheduled to receive backpack donations include:
*         A Child's Place of Charlotte
*         Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Athletic League, Inc.
*         Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
*         NeXus Urban Serve
*         Trips for Kids
*         YMCA of Greater Charlotte


WHAT:           Stewart is partnering with Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation to donate backpacks containing essential school supplies to Charlotte-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
                        9610 Pineville Matthews Road
                        Pineville, NC 28134

WHEN:          Wednesday, October 14, 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 Pineville Office Depot store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event (Wednesday, October 14).

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 / lisa.schmitz@edelman.com or Jessie Kalin at 312-240-2989 / jessie.kalin@edelman.com to schedule an interview with Stewart.