Office Depot and REAL Change Productions Announce Star-Studded Telecast to Celebrate Teachers Who Change Lives

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With so many teachers using their own paycheck to equip their classrooms, Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, is partnering with REAL Change Productions to recognize teachers for their positive influence on today’s youth, as well as raise awareness for a donation program benefiting classrooms throughout the country.

“We applaud Office Depot for their support and partnership in the REAL Change program. Their contributions will significantly impact classrooms across the country by bringing supplies to teachers and students with limited resources”

To officially kick off the partnership, Office Depot is the founding sponsor of the 2013 REAL Change Artists For Education TV special, which will air April 23 on CBS as well as other syndicated networks (check local listings). Alongside Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Miley Cyrus, Jason Mraz, and others, Office Depot will shine the spotlight on teachers while rallying the nation to help give back.

The telecast will include visits to the artists’ hometown schools to acknowledge their most inspiring teacher, and Pitbull will celebrate his teacher that made a difference with a special performance at his former high school in Miami.

Starting today, teachers can visit www.officedepot.com/realchange to register for the program, which will then make their classrooms eligible to receive direct donations. Parents, students and friends can then visit www.officedepot.com/realchange to make a general donation or search for a specific teacher or school to make a donation that will benefit the specific classroom.

All funds donated will be distributed through AdoptAClassroom.org, an organization that connects donors with teachers to be classroom champions.

“We applaud Office Depot for their support and partnership in the REAL Change program. Their contributions will significantly impact classrooms across the country by bringing supplies to teachers and students with limited resources,” said Liam Murphy, Founder and CEO of REAL Change.”

Understanding the value of education, Office Depot strives to help teachers, parents and students through various give-back programs throughout the school year, including the Star Teacher Program, Office Depot’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack Program, which has distributed nearly 3 million backpacks filled with essential school supplies to deserving students throughout the country since its inception in 2001.

“At Office Depot, we recognize that teachers not only educate our children, but most importantly, have the power to change lives,” said Bob Moore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer for Office Depot. “By providing teachers and students with the necessary resources, we hope to create healthy and happy learning environments for future growth.”

To learn more about REAL Change and how you can participate or help with the donation efforts, please visit www.officedepot.com/realchange.

About Office Depot

Office Depot provides office supplies and services through 1,629 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs, and global e-commerce operations. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $10.7 billion, employs about 38,000 associates, and serves customers in 59 countries around the world.

Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com and http://socialpress.officedepot.com/.

About REAL Change

REAL Change Productions, LLC (RCP), is a premier production/consultant company established in 2008, focusing on the creative and business sides in television, film, music and special social platforms that complement the world and create change.

Additionally, Founder and CEO Liam Murphy created the Television Special “REAL Change- Artists for Education” to help bring to light educational programs that are helping children, teachers and schools. The annual Television Special will inspire the nation to create change.

About AdoptAClassroom.org

Founded in 1998, Adopt-A-Classroom is an award-winning nonprofit organization that increases opportunity for student success by empowering teachers with community partners and funds to purchase resources for the classroom. Adopt-A-Classroom pairs donors with teachers to provide critical resources and materials to meet the unique needs of their students and transform their classrooms into vibrant learning centers. For more information, visit AdoptAClassroom.org.