Office Depot and Lexmark Team up with Operation Homefront to Provide Military Families with Free Printers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In recognition of Memorial Day, Office Depot® (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE:LXK), a leading global provider of imaging products, solutions and services, today announced a new program in conjunction with Operation Homefront that will provide military families with much-needed technology to help them stay in touch with their loved ones serving in the armed forces.

“We applaud Operation Homefront for their dedication to military families all over the world, and we hope that our customers will embrace the opportunity to help these families as well.”

The special program runs from May 30 through June 5. During that time Office Depot and Lexmark will donate a new Lexmark printer* to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of military families nationwide, each time a customer purchases a Lexmark printer in an Office Depot store (regularly priced at $199.99 and above) or online at www.officedepot.com/lexmark/operationhomefront. Office Depot and Lexmark hope to donate more than 4,000 printers.

“Office Depot is honored to support Operation Homefront through our partnership with Lexmark, and give back to thousands of military families by providing printers through this special program,” said Steve Mahurin, Executive Vice President of Merchandising for Office Depot. “We applaud Operation Homefront for their dedication to military families all over the world, and we hope that our customers will embrace the opportunity to help these families as well.”

“Operation Homefront provides necessary assistance to the families of U.S. military troops who are serving our country,” said Paul Rooke, executive vice president and president of Lexmark’s Imaging Solutions Division. “Lexmark is pleased to support dedicated partners like Office Depot that value corporate citizenship as much as we do. In addition to saving time and money with their purchase of a Lexmark all-in-one printer, customers will walk away feeling good about supporting this worthy cause.”

Program Featured on Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ champion Tony Stewart is helping the cause as well with his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet featuring a special rear TV panel with the Office Depot, Lexmark and Operation Homefront logos, as well as the message, “Buy A Printer, Support Military Families.” The message will appear on the race car during the nationally televised Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend (Sunday, May 30, 6 p.m. EDT, FOX).

“I am very grateful to the men and women who serve our country, and that includes all of the military families who sacrifice time with their loved ones,” Stewart said. “They make it possible for people like me to do what I love and for fans to enjoy being at the race track every weekend. For any NASCAR fan who needs a new printer, now is the time to visit your local Office Depot store. Your purchase of a Lexmark printer will directly benefit a military family, and that is a great gift.”

Tweet Your Support: #OperationShoutOut

As part of the Office Depot and Lexmark program, people can also engage with Operation Homefront and support members of the military via Twitter. Beginning now through June 5, people can give a “Shout Out” to someone serving in the military and be entered for a chance to win one of 10 Lexmark printers. To participate, go to Twitter (www.Twitter.com) and tweet the name and rank of a loved one in the military, along with the hashtag: #OperationShoutOut, from your Twitter account.

For more information, please visit www.officedepot.com/lexmark/operationhomefront or your local Office Depot retail store location.

You can find Office Depot on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OfficeDepot and follow Office Depot on Twitter at http://twitter.com/officedepot.

To learn more about the products and services available at Office Depot, please visit your local Office Depot retail store location or www.officedepot.com.

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Hooters and Operation Homefront Launch Valentine Fund for Special Forces Personnel and Families

/PRNewswire/ -- Operation Homefront and Hooters have joined together to establish The Valentine Fund in honor of fallen hero SOCS Thomas J. Valentine. The fund will support the families of Special Forces service members and other military families.

On February 1, 2009, Hooters across the country started raising money for the cause through local charitable events as well as selling heart-shaped card cutouts in their 389 restaurants across the country.

Thomas J. Valentine, a Navy SEAL troop chief, was killed during a training exercise Feb. 13, 2008. He left behind his wife, Christina, a 15-year member of the Hooters family, and two young children. In honor of his sacrifice, Hooters established a fund in Valentine's name through Operation Homefront.

"The Valentine Fund is a tribute to all our service members and their families," said Amy Palmer, chief operating officer, Operation Homefront. "We are proud to be part of an effort that recognizes their sacrifices and provides a means to help them."

Hooters has a long-standing reputation for community initiatives. Last year when Valentine was killed, Hooters raised money to support Christina and presented her with a $100,000 check to go toward her children's education. The Valentine Fund is another opportunity for the company to stand behind those who serve and honor Tom's memory.

"Military families make daily sacrifices, the greatest of which is when a service member is killed," Christina Valentine said. "Through the Valentine Fund and the efforts of Operation Homefront, we can help Special Warfare families in all instances. The Valentine Fund not only honors Tom, an 18-year veteran of the Special Operations Warfare community, but all those who have given their lives and those who remain and continue to serve this great nation. It is an honor to be a part of this effort."

The donation drive will continue until April 2009. In addition to the Valentine Fund, Hooters and Operation Homefront will partner in various local efforts throughout the year in support of military personnel and their families.

For more information: www.operationhomefront.net or contact: Tranette Ledford, director of Public Relations: Tranette@operationhomefront.net; 210-659-7756 or 210-788-8778.

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Hooters of Savannah and Operation Homefront Georgia Hosts Christmas Party for the Troops

/PRNewswire/ -- On December 25, Hooters of Savannah is partnering with Operation Homefront Georgia to host an exclusive Christmas party for the service personnel returning home to Ft. Stewart after being deployed for 15 months in Iraq. Hooters of Savannah is expecting about 200 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division to enjoy free food and presents from the Hooters Girls. Hooters of Savannah is located at 4 Gateway Blvd.

"Many of these young soldiers have no family in the area and are not permitted to travel any distance from the base for 30 days, so Operation Homefront Georgia asked Hooters to help put something together for these single soldiers," stated Leenie Ruben, Development Director for Operation Homefront Georgia. "They will be the honored guests of the Savannah Hooters on Christmas Day."

From 1:00 - 4:00 PM the Savannah Hooters will be open only to the soldiers during the private party. Homefront Georgia Volunteers along with HOPE (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) dogs and handlers will be on hand to assist the Hooters Girls, all of whom volunteered to work on their holiday.

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