Staples Announces Donations of More than $480,000 to Boston Area Charitable Organizations

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), the world’s largest office products company and Staples Foundation for Learning, a private foundation created by Staples, today announced charitable donations to 21 Boston area non-profit organizations. The donations, which totaled more than $480,000, are part of the company and its foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting non-profit organizations in their hometown.

In addition to awarding grants to non-profit organizations that focus on providing educational and job skills programs to at-risk youth, Staples funds local philanthropic events that raise awareness of their work in the community. This spring, Staples donated $220,000 to support events for the following Boston-based organizations:

American Ireland Fund; Boston Public Library; Boston Symphony Orchestra; Facing History & Ourselves; hopeFound; Inner City Scholarship Fund; John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Junior Achievement of Boston; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Museum of Fine Arts; New England Jesuits; United Way of Boston and Merrimack Valley.

Staples Foundation for Learning also awarded nine grants totaling $262,000 to non-profit organizations throughout Massachusetts in support of local youth. These organizations provide programs focused on educational development, job skills and diversity.

“As a company headquartered in Massachusetts, Staples recognizes the importance of supporting organizations in our own backyard that help youth realize their full potential,” said Paul Capelli, vice president of Staples, Inc. “The organizations we support provide youth with innovative, educational programs that prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders.”

Organizations receiving grants include:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to Young Leaders, which enables youth to develop their leadership, work and community service skills. Since 2005, Staples and Staples Foundation for Learning has donated $65,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
• Horizons for Homeless Children, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to Community Children’s Centers, which helps homeless children develop their literacy and social skills. Since 2005, Staples and Staples Foundation for Learning has donated $41,700 to Horizons for Homeless Children.
• Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), Boston, MA --- $200,000 to the Inner City 100, an annual list of the fastest growing US-based inner city companies, which help accelerate sustainable job growth, income and wealth creation for inner–city residents. Since 2004, Staples Foundation for Learning has donated $725,000 to ICIC.
• Jewish Vocational Service, Boston, MA --- $5,000 to A Bridge to Careers and College, which provides training to low-income adults to help them identify a wide range of education and career advancement opportunities.
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to the Financial Literacy Education program, which provides disadvantaged youth with financial, business and entrepreneurial education. Since 2004, Staples and Staples Foundation for Learning has donated $55,000 to Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA --- $5,000 to Think:Kids, which provides high-need youth with counseling, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Minds Matter of Boston, Boston, MA --- $5,000 to a youth mentoring program that pairs talented, inner-city high school students with caring adult volunteers.
• Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA --- $7,000 to the Youth Conservation Steward Program, which enables youth to develop their leadership, academic and environmental stewardship skills. Since 2007, Staples Foundation for Learning has donated $17,000 to Sudbury Valley Trustees.
• Tenacity, Brighton, MA --- $10,000 to the After-School Excellence Program, which provides students with academic instruction, college preparation and professional mentoring.

About Staples Foundation for Learning

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc. is to teach, train and inspire. Founded in 2002, the foundation has contributed more than $14 million to national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning has also developed lasting relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Earth Force, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. In addition, Staples Foundation for Learning supports Ashoka, an organization that develops and supports social entrepreneurs around the world, in eight countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United States. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org.