Edwards and mom named PTA National Ambassadors

NASCAR STAR AND HIS MOM TEAM UP TO HELP PTA
Carl Edwards and Nancy Sterling to Serve as PTA National Ambassadors for Youth for 2007-08 School Year

Delray Beach, Fla., September 19, 2007 - Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) announced today that Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion and his mother, Nancy Sterling, will serve as Co-Ambassadors for Youth for the nation's largest volunteer parent organization, PTA. Edwards and Sterling have both been strong supporters of PTA in the past, with Edwards serving as National Ambassador for Youth last year and Sterling having been President of her local PTA when Edwards and his younger brother Kenny were in grade school.

"Having my mom involved in my school life when I was growing up made a big difference, and that definitely helped me in school," Edwards said. "Last year I had a chance to give back by serving as National Ambassador for Youth for PTA. It's really cool that now I get to hold the same position together with my mom. This really brings things full circle."

Office Depot, a Proud Community Partner of PTA, will help Edwards and his mom Nancy work with the national organization to reach out to kids nationwide, encouraging parents to be more involved with their kids' education.

"PTA had a huge impact on me and my family and last year I saw how much Carl enjoyed working with the organization," Sterling said. "I'm really excited to be a part of the program this year. Not only will I be able to talk with other parents as well as teachers and students, I also get to share this special experience with Carl."

Sterling isn't the only member of her family with a role in education on her resume - Edwards was a substitute teacher prior to his racing career taking off in 2005. Since becoming one of NASCAR's rising young stars, Edwards has maintained his commitment to education and to helping children. Edwards and PTA are working with the Office Depot Foundation to help distribute more than 300,000 backpacks with school supplies to underprivileged children during this back to school season.

"Office Depot's commitment to education is longstanding and we are very proud that Carl Edwards is so involved with us in helping kids and schools," said Chuck Rubin, President of North American Retail for Office Depot. "Whether he is working with the Office Depot Foundation to hand out backpacks to deserving children or letting people know about our 5% Back to Schools program, Carl has been a big supporter of our efforts in education and we are thrilled that he is able to bring that same enthusiasm to our partnership with National PTA."

"PTA welcomes back Carl Edwards now with his mom Nancy Sterling to help inspire parents and families to make a difference for children's health, education, and well-being," said Jan Harp Domene, PTA National President. "We are excited to add this mother and son duo to the PTA team. They have shown that with a good education and the support of your family, any child can make their dreams come true. "

About Office Depot
Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of over $15.4 billion, and employs approximately 52,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 43 countries.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. As of June 30, 2007, Office Depot had 1,186 retail stores in North America and another 369 stores, either company-owned, licensed or franchised, in other parts of the world. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites. With $4.7 billion in online sales during the last twelve months, the Company is also one of the world's largest e-commerce retailers.

Office Depot's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

About the Office Depot Foundation
The Office Depot Foundation is an independent foundation that serves as the primary charitable giving arm of Office Depot. In keeping with its mission, Listen Learn Care, the Foundation strives to make a positive impact on many lives in many communities around the world. The Foundation supports a variety of programs that enhance the quality of life for children, strengthen communities, encourage local and global economic growth, and empower schools and non-profit organizations. It also provides support when disasters strike ? doing what it can, not only to speed the process of rebuilding, but also to mitigate the impact of future disasters. For more information about the Office Depot Foundation, visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.

About PTA
PTA comprises more than 5 million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA flourishes in more than 25,000 school communities nationwide by harnessing the energy and talents of millions of volunteers to be: voices for all children; relevant resources for families and communities; and champions for the education and well-being of every child. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned about the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. Visit www.PTA.org for more information.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 14 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O'Quinn Jr.; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil, Erik Darnell and T.J. Bell; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series with Colin Braun and Darnell.

-credit: rfr