JULY 8: NASCAR Star Tony Stewart to Donate 4,200 Backpacks to Chicago-Area Children In Need

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MEDIA ALERT

WHO:             Tony Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(tm) champion and driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy, will headline a special "Back To School Celebration" event at a local Office Depot store in Chicago. Stewart will be helping Chicago-area kids get ready to head back to school with the much-needed tools they need to succeed.

Other special guests include:
*         Alderman Scott Waguespack, Ward 32

Organizations scheduled to receive backpack donations include:
*         Casa Central
*         Chicago Public Schools
*         Chicago Youth Programs
*         PUSH for Excellence
*         Jane Addams Hull House Association
*         Jewish Child & Family Services
*         Latino Organization of the Southwest
*         Speedway Children's Charities
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 Chicagoland area children in need.

                        During the event, Stewart will assist the Foundation in donating 4,200 backpacks to representatives from local organizations as part of the Office Depot Foundation's National Backpack Program. The Foundation donates backpacks across the United States and Canada in an effort to help kids succeed in school. This year, the Office Depot Foundation is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its National Backpack Program. Since the program began in 2001, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation have donated approximately 2.3 million backpacks to children in need. In 2010, Stewart will assist the Foundation in donating 300,000 backpacks nationwide.

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

WHERE:        Office Depot
                        2928 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657

WHEN:          Thursday, July 8, 2010
*         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 North Ashland Avenue Office Depot store beginning at 7 a.m. local time on the day of the event only (Thursday, July 8). Fans with a wristband must be in line no later than 5:15 p.m. local time to receive an autograph.

PHOTOS:      - Tony Stewart presenting backpacks to local children and community organizations
        - The No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice show car with 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 Jessie Kalin at 312-240-2989 or jessie.kalin@edelman.com to schedule an interview with Stewart.

CONTACT:
Jessie Kalin
Edelman
312-240-2989 (office)
312-593-8112 (mobile)
jessie.kalin@edelman.com