News (Noticias) for Puerto Rico

Casa de la Bondad Inc., a domestic violence shelter in Humacao, Puerto Rico, is receiving an influx of
badly-needed cash, thanks to the foundation started by the late Mary Kay Ash. The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF) is also awarding grants to domestic violence shelters in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The $3 million in grants — 150 in all — will be used for programs aimed at curbing domestic violence, and to help the shelters keep their doors open during the current economic downturn. In a time when expenses are up and donations are down, many shelters risk losing staff or even closing altogether.

“This grant from the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation comes at an important time because statistics show the rates of domestic violence are increasing in Puerto Rico and we have more women seeking help at our shelter,” said Juanita Cardez, executive director of Casa de la Bondad Inc. “We’re going to use the grant for emergency medicine and to make sure there are recreational activities so the women can do things with their children in a safe environment.”

Domestic Violence in Puerto Rico
Oficina de la Procuradora de Mujeres reports that every day 52 Puerto Rican women fall victim to domestic violence and that it is also a major cause of death. With 45 percent of Puerto Rico’s inhabitants living at or below the poverty line and as many as 100,000 homeless, it is especially hard to escape domestic violence. According to the National Resource Center on domestic violence, this high rate of poverty creates a real barrier to ending domestic violence in Puerto Rico. Other Puerto Rico domestic violence statistics from the resource center include:

– 78 percent of domestic violence incidents take place in the victim’s
home

– In 2007, more than 17,000 incidents of domestic violence occurred

– Every year, dozens of women are killed as a result of domestic violence

Mary Kay Commitment
“The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation is a leader in supporting programs to help women survive violent relationships and re-establish their lives,” said Anne Crews, member of the MKACF Board of Directors and vice president of Mary Kay Inc. “Shelters need our help, especially now, because they are the front-line resource for battered women and their children, whose needs are great.”

Mary Kay has long recognized the importance of educating women about domestic violence and keeping them safe from it. Mary Kay Inc. provides materials on domestic violence awareness and prevention to its independent sales force which exceeds 1.8 million worldwide. MKACF funds include those contributed by thousands of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and by the Foundation’s title sponsor, Mary Kay Inc.

About MKACF:
The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was created in 1996 and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded nearly $18 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence and $10.8 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, log on to www.mkacf.org or call
1-877-MKCARES (652-2737). “

El Negociado del Censo de los EE.UU. publicó hoy nuevos datos importantes sobre las características clave de índole social, económico y de vivienda para Puerto Rico, así como para las áreas geográficas con poblaciones de 65,000 habitantes o más. Los datos de la Encuesta sobre la Comunidad de Puerto Rico del 2007 (PRCS, por sus siglas en inglés) cubren temas que van desde el idioma hasta la educación, desde el tamaño de la familia hasta el viaje al trabajo, y proporciona así datos anuales que ayudan a los encargados de tomar decisiones y a los planificadores a prepararse mejor para los cambios y para responder a los cambios.

Algunos de los datos de interés de la PRCS incluyen:

Ingreso

– La mediana de ingreso del hogar en Puerto Rico fue de $17,741 en el 2007. Para las familias fue de $20,900. En familias de parejas casadas fue de $26,930.

– Aproximadamente el 45.5 por ciento de la población de Puerto Rico estaba por debajo del nivel de pobreza.

– Para las personas de 25 años de edad o más, mientras más alto era el nivel de educación, menos probabilidades tenía la persona de estar por debajo del nivel de pobreza. Entre las personas con un grado de bachillerato, el 11.2 por ciento estaba por debajo del nivel de pobreza, comparado con el 62.5 por ciento de las personas que no se habían graduado de la escuela secundaria.

Nivel de educación alcanzado

– El por ciento de puertorriqueños de edades entre 25 y 34 años que tenían un diploma de escuela secundaria en el 2007 (82.3) era más del doble del por ciento de persona de 65 años o más que tenían un diploma de escuela secundaria (37.1 por ciento). Del mismo modo, aproximadamente una de cada diez personas de esta generación más joven tenía un bachillerato o un grado más alto, comparado con una de cada 10 de las personas de 65 años o más.

– Entre las personas de 25 años o más, el 66 por ciento tenía un diploma de la escuela secundaria en el 2007, comparado con el 60 por ciento en el Censo 2000.

– Los porcentajes correspondientes para las personas con un grado de bachillerato disminuyeron del 16 por ciento en la PRCS del 2007 a 14 por ciento en el Censo 2000.

– El mismo patrón se observó para las personas con un título de escuela graduada o profesional; 5.6 por ciento en el 2007 comparado con 4.7 en el 2000.

Estado civil

– El por ciento de la población de 15 años de edad o más que estaban casados en Puerto Rico ha disminuido en los últimos siete años. La población que nunca se ha casado y la separada (incluidas las persona divorciadas y enviudadas) ha aumentado. En la PRCS de 2007, el 40.1 de las personas de 15 años de edad o más estaba casadas, comparadas con el 52 por ciento en el Censo del 2000.

Por otra parte, el 36.6 por ciento de la población de 15 años o más nunca se había casado en los datos de la PRCS del 2007, comparado con 28.0 en el Censo 2000.

– El 23 por ciento de las personas estaban separadas en el 2007 (incluidas las personas enviudadas y divorciadas), comparadas con el 20 por ciento en el Censo 2000.

Vivienda

– Las tasas propietarios de viviendas han disminuido en Puerto Rico en los últimos siete años.

– La mediana del valor de la vivienda era de $104,400.

– La proporción de unidades de vivienda ocupadas por el propietario en el Censo 2000 era de 72.9 por ciento, comparado con 74.3 por ciento en el 2007 (no se observó diferencia significativa para los propietarios de viviendas entre los años 2005, 2006 y 2007).

Los estimados de un solo año de la Encuesta sobre la Comunidad de Puerto Rico están disponibles para todas las áreas con población de 65,000 habitantes o más. Esto incluye el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, 12 municipios y siete ciudades. El 9 de diciembre, el Negociado del Censo publicará los primeros estimados de tres años para Puerto Rico. Los datos estarán disponibles para áreas con una población de 20,000 habitantes o más. Esto incluirá 53 municipios y nueve ciudades adicionales.

La Encuesta sobre la Comunidad de Puerto Rico es una poderosa herramienta nueva diseñada para producir datos locales actuales para las comunidades con un amplio rango de temas. La encuesta proporciona información actual de índole demográfico, social y de vivienda sobre Puerto Rico, información que antes sólo estaba disponible cada 10 años.”

What:
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold an online news briefing to highlight embargoed data from the 2007 Puerto Rico Community Survey. The new findings cover a wide range of socioeconomic and housing topics about Puerto Rico.

The briefing will be comprised of a simultaneous audio conference and an online presentation. Data released during the online conference will be EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01 A.M., TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2008.

When:
Monday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. EDT

Who:
Lillian Torres Aguirre, director, Puerto Rico Planning Board’s Office of the Census
Alfredo Navarro, assistant division chief, Decennial Statistical Studies Division, U.S. Census Bureau

Where:
Instituto de Estadisticas de Puerto Rico
57 Quisqueya St., second floor
San Juan, PR 00917

The event is open to media who register in advance and agree to the terms of the Census Bureau’s Embargo Policy. To register, please call 301-763-3691.

Media may view the online conference either at the Instituto de Estadisticas de Puerto Rico or via the Internet.

View the Web Conference at the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics:

Access the Web Conference via the Internet:

Information for participating in the online conference can be found on the Census Bureau’s Embargo web site at www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/ releases/archives/embargoed_releases/index.html. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser’s address field; remove the extra space if one exists.) If you do not have access to the embargo site, please call 301-763-3691. Please log in early as setup is required.

Interviews:
Speakers will be available for questions and answers following the briefing.

The Census Bureau’s spokesperson will be available for radio interviews following the briefing. Contact Tom Edwards of the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office at 301-763-2184/3030.”

Puerto Rico takes center stage at the Smithsonian Latin Center in Washington, D.C. beginning this week. “Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian” has partnered with the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR) to create a series of programs highlighting Latin American culture through exhibitions and educational activities.

The activities begin on September 17 with the opening of the exhibit “Posters of the Division of Community Education (DIVEDCO) of Puerto Rico, 1949 - 1989″ in the lobby of S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C.

“This collaborative effort pays tribute to Puerto Ricans for their outstanding achievements in the arts, sciences and humanities at the international level,” said Dr. Lourdes Ramos, CEO and Executive Director of the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico. “Together with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) we support Puerto Rican culture and diversity and our progress as a country.”

The tradition of honoring Latin American Culture was created by the Smithsonian Latin American Center in 2006, with Colombia and Mexico already recognized.

The celebrations honoring Puerto Rico continued on September 18 with a black-tie gala “Smithsonian con Sabor” held at the Smithsonian’s Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. “Legacy Awards” were presented to six noted Puerto Ricans for their contributions to culture and heritage in the international arena.

The distinguished Puerto Ricans selected were Pepón Osorio in the arts; doctors Orlando Figueroa, Ariel Lugo and Antonia Novello in the sciences; Marta Casals Istomin and Dr. Juan Flores in the humanities.

Chef Jose Santaella was the special guest at the gala, creating a gourmet menu inspired by the best Creole cuisine. Puerto Rican designers Emilio Olabarrieta and Julio Cintron created decorations inspired by the flora and fauna of the island. Artist Jaime Suarez, creator of “L’s of Labyrinth,” will also be on hand.

Rums of Puerto Rico showcased specialty tastes of the island. Karen Garnik, Director of Rums of Puerto Rico, said “the tribute paid by the Smithsonian Latin Center to Puerto Rico is a true celebration for all Puerto Ricans.”

“This is a unique opportunity for Puerto Rico to showcase the island as one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caribbean,” said Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Executive Director of the Tourism Company of Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian” activities will continue during the coming months with programs for children and adults. Additional details about “Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian” are available at (202) 298-7704 or www.latino.si.edu.

For highlights of the event, including soundbites with Legacy Award honorees, click on the video link.

If you are a TV station and have access to Pathfire DMG, video of the event is available: click on the binoculars, select advanced search tab, keywords: Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian. “

¡SORPRESA! programming block to air on Mega TV BROADCAST AFFILIATE in puerto rico

Families in Puerto Rico Can Now Enjoy ¡Sorpresa!’s Unique In-Language, In-Culture Preschool Programming on Mega TV’s WSJU-TV Channel 30

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Sept. 15, 2008 – Families across Puerto Rico can now enjoy an in-language, in-culture preschool programming block on Mega TV’s WSJU-TV Channel 30 featuring five popular programs from ¡Sorpresa!, America’s fastest growing Spanish-language children’s network. Mega TV premiered the ¡Sorpresa! children’s programming block on Aug. 30, the first Saturday after WSJU-TV became an affiliate of Mega TV, which is owned and operated by Spanish Broadcasting System.

The one-and-a-half hour block features both educational and entertaining content, including preschool programs Cubeez, Bali, Zumbers, Boom and Reds, and Telmo and Tula: Little Cooks. The programming block kicks off between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. AST every Saturday and Sunday morning and has non-duplicated time slots.

“¡Sorpresa! is the first network in the U.S. truly dedicated to serving the Hispanic children’s audience with content that reflects their heritage, and the preschool programming block is an excellent addition for our new affiliate in Puerto Rico,” said Cynthia Hudson –Fernandez, Chief Creative Officer and EVP of Mega TV. “Together with ¡Sorpresa! we can provide an in-language, in-culture viewing experience that our Hispanic children and their families can enjoy.”

“Our partnership with Mega TV exemplifies our national multi-platform strategy to strengthen our brand and attract all Hispanic TV audiences looking for in-language, culturally-relevant content,” said Maria Badillo, SVP of Programming of ¡Sorpresa!. “This type of partnership also reasserts ¡Sorpresa!’s commitment to providing the entire Hispanic audience with programming that inspires them to embrace their heritage.”

About Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is the largest publicly traded Hispanic-controlled media and entertainment company in the United States. SBS owns and/or operates 21 radio stations located in the top Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, including the #1 Spanish-language radio station in America, WSKQ-FM in New York City, as well as 4 of the Top 8 rated radio stations airing the Tropical, Mexican Regional, Spanish Adult Contemporary and Hurban format genres. The Company also owns and operates Mega TV, a television operation serving the South Florida market, owns and operates a station in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale DMA (WSBS) Ch. 22, and an affiliate in West Palm Beach, Fl (Ch. 57/Comcast 231). Mega TV also has national distribution in the US through DirecTV Más (Ch. 405). The channel can also be seen in Puerto Rico on DIRECTV (Ch. 169), and through affiliate WSJU (Ch. 30). SBS also produces live concerts and events throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Company operates www.LaMusica.com, a bilingual Spanish-English online site providing content related to Latin music, entertainment, news and culture. The Company’s corporate Web site can be accessed at www.spanishbroadcasting.com.

About Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is the largest publicly traded Hispanic-controlled media and entertainment company in the United States.  SBS owns and/or operates 21 radio stations located in the top Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, including the #1 Spanish-language radio station in America, WSKQ-FM in New York City, as well as 4 of the Top 8 rated radio stations airing the Tropical, Mexican Regional, Spanish Adult Contemporary and Hurban format genres. The Company also owns and operates Mega TV, a television operation serving the South Florida market, owns and operates a station in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale DMA (WSBS) Ch. 22, and an affiliate in West Palm Beach, Fl (Ch. 57/Comcast 231). Mega TV also has national distribution in the US through DirecTV Más (Ch. 405). The channel can also be seen in Puerto Rico on DIRECTV (Ch. 169), and through affiliate WSJU (Ch. 30). SBS also produces live concerts and events throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  In addition, the Company operates www.LaMusica.com, a bilingual Spanish-English online site providing content related to Latin music, entertainment, news and culture. The Company’s corporate Web site can be accessed at www.spanishbroadcasting.com.

About ¡Sorpresa!

¡Sorpresa!, a Juniper Content Corporation (OTCBB: JNPC; “Juniper Content”) company, is the nation’s first children’s cable television network broadcast exclusively in Spanish, offering culturally relevant programming for children ages two to 17. ¡Sorpresa! is offered on Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, NCTC, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and in Puerto Rico on Liberty Cablevision, Choice Cable TV and OneLink. ¡Sorpresa! content is also available through third party multi-platforms including MobiTV, the provider of Spanish language video services to Alltel Wireless, AT&T and Sprint; Brightcove, the exclusive broadband video player to www.sorpresatv.com; and Akimbo, VOD provider to AT&T Homezone.

Juniper Content Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events and future performance of Juniper Content Corporation. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs.  Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein.  This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors disclosure contained in certain of Juniper Content Securities and Exchange Commission filings. For a description of certain factors that could cause actual results to vary from current expectations and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, refer to documents that Juniper Content files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Juniper Content is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

# # #

¡Sorpresa! Media Contact: ¡Sorpresa! Investor Relations Contact:

Pascale Marchand Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates

Bob Gold & Associates Keith Lippert/Carolyn Capaccio

Phone: (310) 784-1040 Phone: (212) 838-3777

pascale@bobgoldpr.com

MegaTV Media Contact:

Isabel Bucaram-Montana
Spanish Broadcasting System
Director of Marketing and Communications

7007 NW 77 Avenue

Miami, Florida 33166

Tel: 305. 644.4800 x 1156

Direct line: 786.470.1656

imontana@sbscorporate.com

——————————————————————————————————————————-

VERSION EN ESPANOL

EL BLOQUE DE PROGRAMACIÓN DE ¡SORPRESA! SALDRÁ AL AIRE EN LA FILIAL DE Mega TV EN puerto rico

Las Familias de Puerto Rico Ahora Podrán Disfrutar de la Programación Preescolar en Español de ¡Sorpresa! en el Canal 30, de la WSJU-TV de Mega TV

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — el 15 de septiembre de 2008 – Las familias de todo Puerto Rico podrán disfrutar de la programación en español para niños de edad preescolar que ofrece ¡Sorpresa!, el canal infantil en español de mayor crecimiento en los Estados Unidos. Mega TV estrenó el bloque de programación infantil de ¡Sorpresa! el 30 de agosto, el primer sábado después de que la WSJU-TV se convirtió en la filial de Mega TV, operada por Spanish Broadcasting System.

El bloque de hora y media presenta contenido educativo y de entretenimiento, incluyendo programas para niños de edad preescolar como Cubeez, Bali, Zumbers, Boom and Reds, y Telmo and Tula: Little Cooks. El bloque de programación se estrena entre las 07 y las 11 hrs. AST (hora estándar del Atlántico) todas las mañanas de sábado y domingo, sin horarios duplicados.

“¡Sorpresa! es la primera cadena estadounidense dedicada a servir al público hispano infantil con contenido que refleja su herencia cultural, y el bloque de programación es una adición excelente para nuestra nueva filial en Puerto Rico,” señaló Cynthia Hudson –Fernandez, VP Ejecutiva y Directora Creativa de Mega TV. “Juntos con ¡Sorpresa! podemos ofrecer una experiencia televisiva en la cultura e idioma que nuestros niños hispanos y sus familias podrán disfrutar.”

“Nuestra asociación con Mega TV ejemplifica nuestra estrategia de multiplataforma nacional para fortalecer nuestra marca y atraer a todo el público hispano que busca contenido en español y culturalmente relevante,” señaló María Badillo, Vicepresidente de Programación de ¡Sorpresa!. “Esta clase de asociación también reafirma el compromiso de ¡Sorpresa! de proporcionar a todo el público una programación que lo inspira a aceptar su herencia cultural.”

Sobre Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. es la mayor empresa del mundo del espectáculo y de medios de comunicación de los EE.UU. públicamente controlada por hispanos. SBS es propietaria y/u operadora de 21 radioemisoras situadas en los principales mercados hispanos de Nueva York, Los Ángeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco y Puerto Rico, incluyendo la primera estación de radio de habla hispana en los Estados Unidos, WSKQ-FM en la ciudad de Nueva York, así como 4 de las 8 emisoras radiofónicas más sintonizadas en los géneros tropical, mexicano regional, adulto contemporáneo en español y formato urbano. Así mismo, SBS opera y es propietaria de Mega TV, una estación televisiva con sede en el Sur de la Florida que se distribuye a nivel nacional a través de DIRECTV Más. SBS también produce conciertos en vivo y eventos a lo largo de Estados Unidos, incluyendo en Puerto Rico. Además, la compañía opera http://www.lamusica.com , un portal bilingüe de Internet que provee contenidos de música latina, entretenimiento, noticias y cultura. La página Web corporativa de la empresa se puede consultar en http://www.spanishbroadcasting.com .

Sobre ¡Sorpresa!

¡Sorpresa!, una subsidiaria de la compañía Juniper Content, es el canal infantil y la comunidad digital de mayor crecimiento de los EE.UU. ¡Sorpresa! es ofrecida en Comcast, Cablevision, Charter Communications, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, sistemas participantes del National Cable TV Cooperative y en Puerto Rico en el Liberty Cable Systems, Choice Cable y OneLink. El contenido de ¡Sorpresa! está también disponible a través de MobiTV, el proveedor de servicios de video en español para Alltel Wireless, AT&T y Sprint; Brightcove, el exclusivo reproductor de video de banda ancha para www.sorpresatv.com y VOD proveedores Akimbo y AT&T Homezone.

Declaraciones a plazo futuro de Juniper Content

Este comunicado de prensa contiene declaraciones prospectivas en el sentido privado de Reforma de Litigio de Valores Ley de 1995 sobre futuros eventos y resultados futuros de Juniper Content Corporation. Estas declaraciones se basan en la gestión de expectativas actuales o creencias. Los resultados reales podrían variar materialmente de aquellos expresados o implícitos en las declaraciones en este documento. Esta información está calificada en su totalidad por las declaraciones de advertencia y los factores de riesgo divulgación contenida en algunos valores de Juniper Content y Comisión Nacional del Mercado de presentación de solicitudes. Para una descripción de ciertos factores que podrían causar que los resultados reales difieran de las expectativas actuales y declaraciones futuras contenidas en este comunicado de prensa, se refieren a documentos de los archives de Juniper Content de vez en cuando con la Securities and Exchange Commission. Juniper Content está bajo ninguna obligación de, y expresamente renuncia a toda obligación de, actualizar o alterar sus declaraciones prospectivas, ya sea como resultado de nueva información, eventos futuros, cambios en suposiciones o de otro tipo.

# # #

¡Sorpresa!- Contacto para medios de comunicación

Pascale Marchand

Bob Gold & Associates

(310) 784-1040

pascale@bobgoldpr.com

o

¡Sorpresa!- Contacto para inversionesContact:

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates

Keith Lippert/Carolyn Capaccio

(212) 838-3777

MegaTV- Contacto para medios de comunicación

Isabel Bucaram-Montana
Spanish Broadcasting System
Director de Marketing y Comunicación

7007 NW 77 Avenue

Miami, Florida 33166

(305) 644-4800 x 1156

Línea directa: (786).470-1656

imontana@sbscorporate.com“

did you know this?

Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, will celebrate the opening of its fourth store in Puerto Rico – the retailer’s first in Caguas – with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and be preceded by a short meet and greet at the store. The store is located at Las Catalinas Mall at the intersection of State Road 52 and Avenida Jose Garrido.

The Ribbon Cutting will be attended by the Honorable Mayor of Caguas, Willie Miranda Marin, Representatives from the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, local non-profit and community organizations and Office Depot executives.

Office Depot, which has 1,680 retail store locations globally, first entered the Puerto Rico market in mid-2007 with a location in San Patricio. Two additional Office Depot stores in Guaynabo and Carolina opened in late 2007 and early 2008.

“Office Depot came to Puerto Rico with the goal of providing businesses here with exceptional value, selection, quality and service that is designed to help them grow their businesses and succeed,” said Chuck Rubin, President of North American Retail for Office Depot. “The response from the Puerto Rico community has been fantastic and we look forward to continuing to be a great business partner to current and future customers.”

Special guests scheduled to participate in the September 3 ribbon cutting include:

Non-Profit Organization Representatives:

• Cora H. Arce Rivera, Casa Protegida de Julia de Burgos, Inc.
• Sister Thelma Pujols, Hogar Del Nino, Inc.

Puerto Rico Officials:

• Mayor of Caguas, Willie Miranda Marin

“Office Depot is strongly committed to enhancing the quality of life in the communities in which we conduct business,” said Ralph Herrerias, District Manager of Puerto Rico for Office Depot. “We are excited to open our fourth Puerto Rico store location and offer our support to the Caguas community.”

About the New Office Depot Store in Caguas

The new Caguas store will be led by Store Manager Raquel Martinez. According to Martinez, the store features Office Depot’s industry-leading M2 retail format. M2 offers customers the most enjoyable shopping experience in the industry – in a format that is intuitive, logical and designed specifically for the way people make purchase decisions.

Products are grouped in highly visible, strategically located “pods,” with core supplies at the outer perimeter of the store – signed for optimal visibility and easy purchase – and furniture and technology at the center – to better support consultative sales.

The new Office Depot store employs approximately 20 full- and part-time associates. It houses more than 7,500 technology, furniture and supply products as well as Design, Print and Ship services in 21,962 square feet of customer space.

Store hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The telephone number for the store is 787-744-2579.

Taking Care of the Community

Office Depot is committed to the communities in which our associates live and work. Through the Company’s Community Relations department and the independent Office Depot Foundation, Office Depot partners with local communities, schools, organizations and businesses to support a variety of activities, including the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack Program. Since the program’s inception, Office Depot has given more than 1.5 million children new backpacks to get ready for school. In 2006, Office Depot joined with Feed The Children to provide thousands of backpacks to children designated by the Ricky Martin Foundation in Puerto Rico. In 2008, the Foundation donated backpacks to Case Protegida De Julia De Burgos, Inc. and Hogar Del Nino, Inc. To learn more about the Office Depot Foundation, visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.

Taking Care of the Environment

Office Depot’s longstanding commitment to the environment is guided by the Company’s environmental vision to increasingly buy green, be green and sell green. Since 2003, Office Depot has developed and implemented a number of “green” initiatives, including:

• Creating The Green Book catalog of thousands of environmentally-friendly products and educational content for Office Depot’s small, medium and large business customers;
• Establishing a $2.2 million Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance through which Office Depot partnered with Conservation International, NatureServe and The Nature Conservancy to resolve real issues in the forestry sector to guide our sustainable efforts;
• Developing a Paper Purchasing Policy through which we became the first office supply company to make Forest Stewardship Council certified paper widely available in the U.S.;
• Reducing the Company’s overall Carbon Dioxide emissions output from 2005 - 2006 by 10.1 percent;
• Retrofitting the lighting in the Company’s North American retail store chain to T5 high-output fluorescent lighting, which is 35 percent more efficient than traditional, incandescent lighting;
• Replacing our fleet of “box trucks” to ultra-low-emission “Sprinter” vehicles, which are on average 40 percent more fuel-efficient than their predecessors and get an estimated 15 or more miles per gallon; and
• Opening of the Company’s first “Green” store, which will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Additionally, achieving volume pre-certification from the USGBC on store prototype.

A complete overview of Office Depot’s environmental programs is available here.

To learn more about Office Depot’s environmental initiatives, please visit http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment.

About Office Depot

Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,680 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $5.0 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $15.4 billion, and employs about 49,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 44 countries.

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. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

“