Investing in Education

The Office Depot Foundation's commitment to education is longstanding and broad-based. Through far-reaching programs, we are very proud to know that we have made an impact from preschools and kindergartens to university classrooms and laboratories. As part of our commitment to our mission - Listen Learn Care - we recognize the importance of supporting children, parents and teachers through initiatives that are designed to make a difference around the world.

National Backpack Program - 11 Years of Hope!

For children to succeed in school, they need to have the right tools: pencils, pens, crayons and such - and something to carry them in, of course. With these in hand, they can walk out the door each morning with a sense of pride - excited about the day ahead.

Unfortunately, millions of kids are far from properly equipped for school. In fact, untold numbers of youngsters head out in the morning with nothing but a plastic bag to carry their books and school supplies in - if they even have any supplies to carry.

Since 2001, the Office Depot Foundation has worked exceptionally hard to change this troubling reality. By donating great-looking new backpacks and sackpacks containing essential school supplies to deserving children all across the United States, Canada and beyond, we are giving them invaluable tools they can use to succeed in the classroom.

In 2009, the Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program reached a remarkable milestone when we placed our two millionth backpack onto the shoulders of a child. In 2010, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the program and, by the end of 2011, we will have donated more than 2.5 million backpacks and sackpacks to deserving children.

The sackpacks we donate are designed with kids in mind - they come in five different color combinations and are sturdy and functional. You will not find the Office Depot Foundation's logo anywhere on the sackpacks - except for a removable paper tag. We want to be sure that children are proud to carry the sackpacks they receive, with no risk of being stigmatized by something that clearly identifies it as an act of charity.

Visit the Office Depot Foundation page on Facebook to view photos from this year's sackpack donation events.

The 2012 Office Depot Foundation grant cycle is now open. Applications will be accepted through October 2012. The Foundation is not accepting requests or applications for the National Backpack Program. Please do not submit requests to the Foundation or to Office Depot stores. Thank you.

Dream UP Career Exploration Program

The opportunity to achieve success in school is dependent upon staying in school. This principle lies at the core of a key Office Depot Foundation initiative - the Dream UP Career Exploration Program. Launched in 2010 in collaboration with USA TODAY, this program seeks to address the alarming problem of middle school students dropping out of school.

By encouraging middle school students to begin to consider career opportunities, establish long-term goals and dream about what they might become in the future, the Dream UP program represents a vitally important strategy that teachers and schools can use to keep students in the classroom, rather than losing them to the streets.

In 2009-2010, more than 35,000 middle school students in 75 classrooms in 14 states and a U.S. school in Germany explored their personal interests and career goals through the Dream UP Program. Throughout the curriculum, students read and analyzed real-world information found in the print and online editions of USA TODAY. Guided by their teachers, they explored and researched numerous career options that they discovered – and each student developed a career portfolio. The exploration process led the students to a highly meaningful assignment: to craft an essay about their "Dream Job." The best essays were judged in a national contest and five winners were given the opportunity to live their dreams for a day!

The second year of the Dream UP Program will take place in both the spring and fall semesters in 2011. Approximately 65 schools are expected to participate. To learn more about the Dream UP Program, click here. If you are interested in bringing the Dream UP Program to your middle school in the fall semester, please contact Debby Dodge, Director of Education, USA TODAY, at ddodge@usatoday.com.