Hope Centennial ES Starts Proud Thanks to ODP Corp.

On Tuesday, August 13, The ODP Corporation, including Office Depot, ODP Business Solutions, and VEYER, joined forces with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County for the seventh consecutive year to provide critical back-to-school support to students in need. This collaboration focused on helping Hope Centennial Elementary, a Title I school located in West Palm Beach, through the company’s Start Proud! program.

During a festive back-to-school celebration, The ODP Corporation distributed 1,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students at Hope Centennial Elementary. Each backpack contained supplies such as composition books, Crayola crayons, pencils, highlighters, and more, all designed to help students feel prepared and confident as they head into the new school year. The total value of the backpack bundle provided nearly $120 in economic relief per family, helping to ease the burden on parents.

This event also saw strong volunteer support, with 45 Office Depot employees from around Palm Beach County stepping up to assist with the distribution. In addition to the

backpacks, the school received $20,000 in in-store credit at Office Depot  

—a generous donation from Domtar that will help teachers stock up on critical classroom essentials.

“Caring for the communities we operate in is a driving part of our company culture. We are proud to team up with The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and The School District of Palm Beach County to equip teachers and staff at Hope Centennial Elementary School with the technology and equipment needed to enhance their learning environment,” said Britnye Kurty, senior manager of Community Investment at Office Depot. “Through our dedication to education and the provision of back-to-school supplies, we strive to help create a more equitable education system for both teachers and students.”

As part of the celebration, one exceptional teacher, selected by their principal, was honored with an All-Star Teacher Award in recognition of their dedication and extraordinary contributions to education. The award included products valued at nearly $2,000, serving as a token of appreciation for their hard work and commitment to their students.

This year marks the 13th time a Palm Beach County school has received this celebration, bringing the total number of backpacks distributed over the past seven years to an impressive 12,000.

On a broader scale, Office Depot continues to support schools across the country through its partnership with Round It Up America. This program allows customers to donate at the point-of-sale, both in-store and online, to help a Title I public school in the local community. Since 2020, this initiative has raised over $14 million to support schools nationwide, making a significant impact on education across the country.

The ODP Corporation’s commitment to supporting students, teachers, and schools underscores the importance of community partnerships in fostering educational success and creating brighter futures for children in need.

The Education Foundation would like to say a special Thank You to UnitedHealthcare’s Jim Moore, affectionately known as DJ Jim, for coming out to pump up the students for a great start to the school year.