Gift Cards for Teachers Top Teen Celebrities' Shopping List
August 16 2005 - 4:25PM
PR Newswire (US)
While Promoting New CD and Summer Concert Series, Teen Recording
Artists Aly & AJ Remember Teachers at Back-to-School Time
ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Teen music
sensations Aly & AJ are not only expected to top the charts
this month with the release of their new CD, but they are also
taking time to tell teens that the top item on their back-to-school
shopping lists is not even for them, it's a gift card for their
teachers. While participating in Summer Break 2K5 -- Powered by
OfficeMax, a summer concert series, Aly & AJ recently learned
that according to the National Education Association, the average
teacher spends nearly $500 each year out of their own pocket to
stock their classroom. The trend-setting teens are asking their
fans to remember to pick up a back-to-school gift of school
supplies or an office supply gift card for their teacher when they
get their own back-to- school gear. "It's really easy to forget
about your teachers when you're getting supplies to fill your own
backpack," said Aly while shopping for school supplies in her
neighborhood OfficeMax store. AJ added, "It's not fair that
teachers have to spend so much money out of their own pockets. If
each student gave them a gift card or some supplies, it would make
a huge difference." Aly & AJ's new CD "Into the Rush" hits
store shelves Aug. 16, the same day they appear in the first annual
Summer Break 2K5 -- Powered by OfficeMax concert series in select
move theaters nationwide. "OfficeMax is thrilled not only to offer
kids all the cool back-to-school supplies they need, but also the
music they want with Summer Break 2K5 and free music downloads,"
said Ryan Vero, OfficeMax executive vice president and chief
merchandising officer. "The timing of Summer Break 2K5 fits
perfectly with back-to-school shopping, and Aly & AJ have hit
on a subject very important to OfficeMax -- helping teachers."
Summer Break 2K5 will be simulcast via satellite in Hi-Definition
and 5.1 surround sound to 86 Regal, United Artists, Edwards and
Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres in 66 markets throughout the
country. Aly & AJ will host the Summer Break 2K5 series
live-via-satellite on Aug. 16, which will feature premieres of the
concert and behind-the-scenes footage shot exclusively for these
in-theatre special events. The shows will also include question
& answer sessions with the performers and their fans. Teen
heart-throb Jesse McCartney kicked off the series on Aug. 2 and
Bowling for Soup will conclude the series on Aug. 30. Tickets for
each show in the Summer Break 2K5 series are $10. For more
information about the concerts, or for a listing of participating
theatres, log onto http://www.officemax.com/ . OfficeMax is the
place to accomplish all school shopping in one easy trip. And,
OfficeMax helps teachers save money with Teacher Appreciation
events throughout August (timing varies by market), including
in-store gift bags with product samples and coupons. OfficeMax's
MaxPerks(SM) for Teachers program also gives teachers reward
dollars on eligible purchases. To learn more about MaxPerks for
Teachers, visit http://www.officemax.com/ . About OfficeMax(R)
Incorporated OfficeMax(R) Incorporated is a leader in both
business-to-business office product solutions and retail office
products. OfficeMax delivers an unparalleled customer experience --
in service, in product, in time savings, and in value -- through a
relentless focus on its customers. The company provides office
supplies and paper, print and document services, technology
products and solutions, and furniture to large, medium and small
businesses and consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by more
than 40,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, Internet and
nearly 1,000 superstores. OfficeMax trades on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol OMX. To find the nearest OfficeMax, call
1-877-OFFICEMAX or more information can be found at
http://www.officemax.com/ . OfficeMax Contact Media Contact Bill
Bonner Colleen Grams, Bader Rutter & Associates 630 438 8584
262 938 5407 DATASOURCE: OfficeMax Incorporated CONTACT: Bill
Bonner of OfficeMax Incorporated, +1-630-438-8584; or, Colleen
Grams of Bader Rutter & Associates, +1-262-938-5407 Web site:
http://www.officemax.com/
Copyright