Port Huron School Wins $5,000 From Staples the Office Superstore

Business Wire, Oct 1, 1998

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1998--

Port Huron Northern High School to Receive School Supplies and

Visit From Detroit Lion's Head Coach as Winner of

"Staples Coach of the Week"

Staples, Inc., pioneer of the office supplies superstore industry based in Westborough, Mass., recently announced that Port Huron Northern High School in Port Huron, Mich. will receive a $5,000 Staples gift certificate for school supplies as the winner of the "Staples Coach of the Week" program. The school will also receive a visit from Bobby Ross, head coach of the Detroit Lions, who was named the "Staples Coach of the Week" for the game played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, September 28th.

The "Staples Coach of the Week" program is run in partnership with the National Football League and CBS. Each week, one head coach whose team played an outstanding game, is honored by NFL representatives. An independent judging organization randomly selects a postcard sent in on behalf of an accredited K-12 school in that football team's area. The winning school receives a $5,000 Staples gift certificate along with a visit from the chosen "Coach of the Week." A school winner is drawn weekly during the NFL season through December 21 and announced every Sunday during the THE NFL TODAY pre-game show on CBS. Port Huron Northern High School is the 4th of 17 winners in the contest this year.

According to Mr. Jim Goldsworthy, principal, Port Huron Northern High School, "It is wonderful that Staples has given this opportunity to our school and community. Their generosity and commitment to our young people is a great example for all business to model. We thank Staples for creating this program and especially for the gift certificate. We will use the gift to promote creative teaching programs. We are looking forward to Bobby Ross visiting our community and our high school."

"Supporting education has always been a priority for Staples. We recognize that schools today are in need of basic supplies to keep their classrooms and administrative offices operating smoothly, and ultimately to successfully educate our students," said Thomas G. Stemberg, chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc.

Schools can enter by completing an entry form at a Staples store; on line at www.staples.com or by sending in an entry to the Staples "Coach of the Week" program.

Staples, Inc. is a $5 billion retailer of office supplies, furniture and technology to businesses from home based businesses to Fortune 50 companies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Staples, headquartered outside Boston, Mass., invented the office superstore concept and is the largest operator of office superstores in the world today. The Company, which has grown earnings per share at a 38% compounded rate over the last four years, has over 32,000 employees serving the business customer through 830 office superstores, mail order catalogs and a contract business. More information about the company is available at http://www.staples.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Information regarding the award presentation and appearance by Bobby Ross, coach of the Detroit Lions to follow, when date is finalized.