Office Depot Joining the Oakland Raiders and Wide Receiver Jacoby Ford to Donate 500 Sackpacks to Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland

Ford Will Participate In Donation Ceremony And Sign Autographs For Fans On November 13 At Emeryville, Calif., Office Depot Store

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, today announced that it is pleased to join the Oakland Raiders, an Office Depot Business Solutions Division customer, and Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford to donate 500 sackpacks to the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland in partnership with the Office Depot Foundation’s award-winning National Backpack Program.

“The Oakland Raiders are a valued Office Depot Business Solutions Division customer, and the team’s commitment to supporting the community and local youth aligns with Office Depot’s commitment to giving back, especially in support of education.”

Through the National Backpack Program, the Office Depot Foundation donates colorful sackpacks containing essential school supplies to deserving children and gives them the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. By the end of 2012, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation will have helped more than 2.9 million children since the inception of the National Backpack Program in 2001.

“On behalf of the Oakland Raiders, I’m very proud to help Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation donate sackpacks and school supplies to the amazing kids that the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland works with every day,” said Ford, a 2009 graduate of Clemson University. “No matter what challenges you face or what career you choose, education is the foundation for achieving success and your dreams in life.”

Donation and Fan Autograph Session

Ford – who grew up in West Palm Beach, just miles from Office Depot’s global headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. – will participate in a private sackpack donation ceremony with representatives from Office Depot and Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland at 4 p.m. PST on Tuesday, November 13, at the local Office Depot store at 3535 Hollis Street in Emeryville, Calif.

Following the ceremony, Ford will sign autographs for 200 fans at the store beginning at 4:30 p.m. PST. Wristbands will be required for an autograph, and fans can obtain a wristband beginning at 8 a.m. PST when the Emeryville Office Depot store local opens. Fans who obtain a wristband must be in line by 5 p.m. to receive an autograph.

Fans can also enjoy “Raider Nation on Location” games and activities, and meet members of the Raiderettes cheerleading squad beginning at 4 p.m. PST in the store’s parking lot. Raiders Radio Network affiliate KITS 105.3 FM will broadcast live from the event.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with the Oakland Raiders and Jacoby Ford in supporting the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland through our Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program,” said Office Depot District Manager Emanuel Fredo. “The Oakland Raiders are a valued Office Depot Business Solutions Division customer, and the team’s commitment to supporting the community and local youth aligns with Office Depot’s commitment to giving back, especially in support of education.”

About Office Depot

Office Depot provides office supplies and services through 1,675 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs, and global e-commerce operations. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $11.5 billion, employs about 39,000 associates, and serves customers in 60 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/.