(Columbia, SC) – Richland County Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson and the Office Depot Foundation are pleased to announce that School/Organization/Students has been chosen to receive colorful new sackpacks containing essential school supplies as part of the Foundation’s 2013 National Backpack Program in partnership with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL).  There will be a Back to School Bash on August 12 at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Park where a formal presentation of the sackpacks will occur.    

“It is essential to make sure that all children have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Dickerson.  “I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Office Depot Foundation to present these sackpacks to deserving students.  As the NFWL Education Team Leader in South Carolina, I commend the Office Depot Foundation on its efforts to help provide dignity and hope to so many wonderful children.”  

By the end of this year, Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) and the Office Depot Foundation will have helped more than 3 million children since the National Backpack Program began in 2001.  This is the eighth year of the partnership.  This year, the Office Depot Foundation will provide the National Foundation for Women Legislators with 15,000 sackpacks for distribution by women elected officials in approximately 45 states.   

The Office Depot Foundation will also donate sackpacks to children in collaboration with the AARP Experience Corps, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA), Feed The Children, Food for the Poor, the Kids In Need Foundation, the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Operation Homefront and Samaritan’s Feet International. These organizations focus on education, domestic abuse, natural disaster relief and other vital issues and will assist in distributing sackpacks to children across the country and internationally.   

“While we are working to improve education standards and setting the stage for our children to acquire the skills and knowledge they will need in the future to be able to compete in an increasingly competitive job market, we need to make sure those in need do not have to worry about the stigma of not having school supplies,” said Dickerson.  

The new 2013 drawstring-style sackpacks come in six different two-color combinations, each of which is highlighted by a unique print designed to match the color scheme.  Highly contemporary in their design, they reflect and respond to changes in the ways that children are taking their materials to school.  Each sackpack includes a zippered pouch containing essential back-to-school items - a ruler, four crayons, a pen, a pencil, a pencil sharpener and an eraser.

About the National Foundation For Women Legislators, Inc. (NFWL)

Through annual educational and networking events, the National Foundation for Women Legislators supports elected women from all levels of governance.   As a non-profit, non- partisan organization, NFWL does not take ideological positions on public policy issues, but rather serves as a forum for women legislators to be empowered through information and experience.  For more information, visit www.womenlegislators.org.

 
About the Office Depot Foundation  

The Office Depot Foundation is an independent foundation − tax exempt under IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) − that serves as the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot, Inc. In keeping with its mission, Listen Learn Care®, the Foundation supports a variety of programs that give children tools to succeed in school and in life; build the capacity of non-profit organizations through collaboration and innovation; and help communities prepare for disasters, as well as recovering and rebuilding afterwards.  For more information, visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.