OfficeMax, Back-to-School Shoppers and Business Clients Donate Nearly $1.9 Million in School Supplies to Make "A Day Made Better" for Teachers

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 90 percent of teachers spend their own money on basic school supplies for their students, according to a recent survey¹. Today OfficeMax^® Incorporated (NYSE:OMX), its back-to-school shoppers and business customers donated nearly $1.9 million in school supplies to teachers nationwide for their classrooms through A Day Made Better – a series of surprise classroom events that help to provide relief and support to teachers nationwide who spend their own money on much-needed classroom supplies.

Today marks the sixth year of the A Day Made Better program, in which OfficeMax associates surprise 1,000 teachers in their classrooms with $1,000 each worth of school supplies – $1 million in sum. OfficeMax consumers and business clients contributed nearly $900,000 in additional school supplies through this summer's in-store supply drive held at OfficeMax locations nationwide. These additional supplies are being donated Oct. 2 to the A Day Made Better schools where the teachers are being honored.

"OfficeMax is proud to be in its sixth year of A Day Made Better because we want teachers and students nationwide to have the resources they need for success in the classroom," said Carolynn Brooks, vice president, chief diversity officer and president of the OfficeMax Charitable Foundation.  "OfficeMax shoppers and business clients have joined the cause because they recognize that their contributions have a positive effect on the community, and ultimately contribute to an educated workforce."

New this year, throughout October OfficeMax will also accept monetary donations at the checkout counters of all its retail locations for AdoptAClassroom.org. These donations will be put into a spending account on AdoptAClassroom.org, where schools that participate in A Day Made Better can use the donations to order additional supplies and equipment for their classrooms.

About A Day Made Better

Teachers spend approximately $1,000 out of their own pockets each year to offset school budget shortfalls and ensure that their students have the necessary classroom resources for learning².  The OfficeMax A Day Made Better program, in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, aims to help end the need for teacher-funded classrooms.

Since 2007, A Day Made Better and other OfficeMax Goodworks programs have contributed more than $18 million in grants and supplies to support more than 29,000 teachers and their classrooms. Additionally, through the annual event, OfficeMax has helped its nonprofit partner AdoptAClassroom.org secure funding for more than 78,000 classrooms nationwide.

Learn more at ADayMadeBetter.com or adopt a teacher at AdoptAClassroom.org.

About OfficeMax
OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in integrating products, solutions and services for the workplace, whether for business or at home.  The OfficeMax mission is simple: We provide workplace innovation that enables our customers to work better.  The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and furniture to businesses and consumers.  OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 29,000 associates through e-commerce, more than 900 stores in the U.S. and Mexico, direct sales and catalogs. OfficeMax has been named one of the 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies, and is the only company in the office supply industry to receive Ethics Inside® Certification by the Ethisphere Institute.  To find the nearest OfficeMax, call 1-877-OFFICEMAX.  For more information, visit www.officemax.com.

About AdoptAClassroom.org
AdoptAClassroom.org is a national, award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting classroom teachers and ensuring all children have equal access to a quality education. Since 1998, the organization has raised over $18 million on behalf of classrooms across America. Donors form meaningful partnerships with classroom teachers and students. Teachers benefit from the ability to purchase resources that create a more engaging learning environment, and students benefit from the knowledge that someone in the community cares about their success. To support a classroom, visit www.AdoptAClassroom.org.

All trademarks, service marks and trade names of OfficeMax Incorporated used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of OfficeMax Incorporated. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

¹2012 AdoptAClassroom.org survey

² 2005 National Education Association survey.  Confirmed by an OfficeMax survey of teachers in June 2009.

OfficeMax Media Contact                                      
Nicole Miller                                                                                            
630.864.6069

SOURCE OfficeMax Incorporated