Office Depot Foundation Listen Learn Care Awards Recognize Extraordinary Community Service
Office Depot Foundation Listen Learn Care Awards Recognize Extraordinary Community Service
May 17 Event Will Feature Clark Kellogg - CBS College Basketball Analyst and Board Member of the One Heart Project
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The One Heart Project - a national program designed to give youth in the juvenile justice system a second chance at a successful life - and a non-profit organization started by a 15-year-old who's passionate about sharks are among the recipients of the Office Depot Foundation's 2013 Listen Learn Care Awards.
The awards, which reflect the Foundation's mission - Listen Learn Care® - will be presented on Friday, May 17, during the Sixth Annual Office Depot Foundation Weekend in Boca Civil Society Leadership Symposium. The Office Depot Foundation is the independent, non-profit foundation that serves as the primary charitable giving arm of Office Depot (NYS: ODP) .
Each year, the Foundation's Listen Learn Care Awards are presented to a small number of exceptional individuals and non-profit organizations who demonstrate outstanding creativity, innovation and achievement in serving the community of mankind. The 2013 honorees are:
Michael Chatman, the host of the weekly #WHYiGIVE chat on Twitter and senior vice president of philanthropy for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks in Springfield, Mo., is known as "America's Maverick Philanthropist." #WHYiGIVE has been voted the most inspiring chat in philanthropy. Chatman also hosts a weekly radio program on the Bloomberg/Wall Street Business Network.
Joe Sibilia, CEO of CSRwire - the social responsibility newswire service - is also the founder of the Gasoline Alley Foundation in Springfield, Mass., and the founder and CEO of Meadowbrook Lane Capital (MBLC). The Gasoline Alley Foundation has incubated 43 small businesses since 1985 and teaches inner city and/or underprivileged persons to be successful entrepreneurs.
The One Heart Project - an initiative of the Heart of a Champion Foundation - grew out of the real-life events surrounding a high school football game between Grapevine Faith School and Gainesville State School - a Texas maximum security facility. The story is the subject of an upcoming film, One Heart, produced by Eterné Films in association with Birchwood Pictures.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties in West Palm Beach, Fla., celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012. It awards grants to help meet community needs, fulfill donors' philanthropic wishes and strengthen the non-profit sector. Founded in 1972, it has total assets of more than $140 million and has awarded over $94 million in grants and scholarships.
Sara Brenes (Youth Award), founded the Shark Whisperer Organization in 2011 when she was 15. Brenes is committed to promoting advocacy, awareness and education about sharks and ocean conservation. After she graduates from high school in June 2013, she plans to attend college and eventually earn a Ph.D. in marine biology with a specialty in shark biology.
The Boca Raton Resort & Club (Honorary Award)- a Waldorf Astoria Resort - is one of Boca Raton's best-known, well-loved and most historic venues. Numerous non-profit organizations host fundraising benefits, awards ceremonies and similar programs within its world-class facilities. The Boca Resort has been named one of Travel + Leisure's "Greatest Hotels in the World."
Clark Kellogg, lead college basketball analyst for CBS Sports, former NBA star and a member of the One Heart Project Board of Directors, will accept the award on behalf of One Heart and will be the featured speaker at the May 17 event along with Mack White, one of the young men who has been served by One Heart.
"The Office Depot Foundation is strongly committed to serving children, families and communities around the world," said Mary Wong, President of the Office Depot Foundation. "We seek to fulfill our mission not only through our own work, but also by helping to strengthen other non-profit organizations and by encouraging - and honoring - exceptional leadership in the non-profit, business, government or volunteer arenas through the Listen Learn Care Awards."
Previous recipients have included three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart and his mother, Pam Boas, an officer of the Tony Stewart Foundation; Dr. Michael Guillen, chairman and president of Philanthropy Project and executive producer of the award-winning film, Little Red Wagon; Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme, founder, president and CEO of Samaritan's Feet International; Zach Bonner, advocate for homeless youth and founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation; the Navajo Code Talkers; and former Miami Dolphins greats Nat Moore and Dwight Stephenson, both of whom established foundations to serve young people in the community.
Sponsors of the Listen Learn Care Awards Celebration include the Wyndham Boca Raton, St. Andrew's School, JKG Group, the Golden Bell Foundation, Eurest Dining Services, Coca-Cola and See Jane Work.
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.
About Office Depot
Office Depot provides office supplies and services through 1,628 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 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://news.officedepot.com.
Office Depot Foundation
Leon Rubin, 561-251-8075
LRubin@jkggroup.com
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