Office Depot & NAAR Promotes Autism Awareness

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Office Depot & NAAR Promotes Autism Awareness

Educational Campaign Educates Customers in 900 Stores Throughout North America

26 March 2004

In honor of National Autism Awareness month in April, Office Depot, Inc., is

teaming up with the National Alliance for Autism Research for a second year to

launch an awareness campaign in Office Depot's 900 retail stores across North

America.

Office Depot's awareness program educates customers with informational

brochures and posters in the stores about autism and the need for increased

research. The program runs through the month of April.

" Despite the strikingly high prevalence and significant national interest in

autism, research remains considerably under funded, " said Bruce ,

Chairman and CEO of Office Depot. " We are pleased to lend our support to NAAR as

they seek to find a cure for autism and improve the quality of life for those

struggling with it. "

In 2003, thanks to the support of Office Depot, other corporate sponsors and

many dedicated volunteers, NAAR committed a record $4.9 million to fund 50

pilot studies and fellowships focused on autism research – the largest

single-year autism research commitment ever made by a nongovernmental

organization.

NAAR’s partnership with Office Depot is the result of the work of Dianne Orr

and Tim l, both Office Depot employees, parents of children with autism

and NAAR supporters. Dianne served as co-chair of the 2003 Palm Beach/Broward

Walk F.A.R. for NAAR and is serving as co-chair of the 2004 event. Last year,

Dianne and Tim worked with their colleagues at Office Depot and NAAR staff to

bring the organizations together. The 2003 promotion marked NAAR’s first

national retail partnership.

As part of last year’s campaign, Office Depot produced a video hosted by Mr.

that features employees of the company who are parents of children with

autism. The segment was used as an educational tool for store employees and

customers.

In addition, Office Depot hosted the 2003 Palm Beach/Broward Walk F.A.R. for

NAAR at the company’s corporate headquarters in Delray Beach, FL and Mr.

served as honorary chair of the event. At the Walk, Mr. presented

NAAR with a $50,000 check.

Office Depot is a major sponsor of the Palm Beach/Broward Walk and will host

the 2004 event at their corporate headquarters for a second consecutive year.

" We are excited to be partnering with Office Depot again in 2004 with this

important initiative that educates the general public about autism spectrum

disorders, " said Prisca Chen Marvin, Esq., chair of the NAAR Board of Trustees.

" We are grateful for the outstanding support Office Depot has given to NAAR as

we continue to search for answers to this devastating disorder. "

Wong, Office Depot's Director of Community Relations, said the company

feels strongly about supporting research and providing hope to the many

families facing autism who are looking for answers to a baffling disorder.

" For parents of children with autism, it can seem like everyday living is a

puzzle. Fortunately, NAAR is helping to find the cause and a cure for autism –

and once again this year, Office Depot is pleased to partner with this

extremely worthwhile organization, " she said. " We believe strongly in the

importance

of our partnership with NAAR and are pleased to know that we are helping in

the effort to find a cure for autism. "

For more information on Office Depot, or to find a store in your community,

please visit <A HREF= " http://www.officedepot.com/ " >www.officedepot.com</A>.