Common Lends Support to Teen-Led Social Change Platform
Contact:
Kelly Groehler, Best Buy
(612) 291-6115 or kelly.groehler@bestbuy.com
Amanda Wolbrom, Weber Shandwick
(212) 445-8230 or awolbrom@webershandwick.com
Teen Service Announcement (TSA) provides testimonial in support of teen-led social change platform
MINNEAPOLIS, March 11, 2009 – Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today unveiled a new TSA (“Teen Service Announcement”) featuring Grammy Award-winning artist, actor and children’s author, Common at www.at15.com. Common participated in the TSA as a supporter of @15, a teen-led social change platform underwritten by Best Buy to give teens a voice and give them opportunities to direct the company’s philanthropy through the newly-created @15 Fund. Best Buy is also sponsoring Common’s new national online book club at www.commongroundfoundation.org/thecorner.html. The Corner book club is an interactive way for 8th-12th grade students to learn and to talk about reading materials that are relevant to their life.
“A wise musician told me you never stop growing if you keep gaining information. So reading has been that segue for me gaining information. Definitely as a teenager you can feel like you’re being overlooked and not paid attention to and it’s a lonely feeling,” said Common in his online TSA. “You should never stop growing. And it’s alright to be a teen growing – and not in height. I’m talking in wisdom and experiences and self-knowledge.”
Like a traditional PSA, the @15 TSAs are short, unscripted videos that share the collective thoughts and experiences of teens – and former teens – with messages of hope and inspiration for America’s youth. The @15 Web site, along with its social networking pages and YouTube channel, features messages from teens engaged in Best Buy programs, celebrities and musicians, and Members of Congress.
Each month, The Corner educational team chooses a book-of-the-month that conveys messages of tolerance, compassion and non-violent expressions of achieving social justice. Through lively discussions about the world of books through “Let’s Talk,” The Corner book club blog, members are encouraged to discuss, debate, critique, and comment on the selected material. A monthly spotlight of celebrity interviews focus on artists’ favorite books, why reading is important to them and issues that teens face today. The questions come right from The Corner youth members. In addition, members have the opportunity to participate in a live online chat with the author of the monthly book selection, which further strengthens relationship between young people and reading.
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About @15
Best Buy believes in the power of teens, and @15 is a new platform to connect with them, give voice to their perspectives, and invest our resources – including the energy and talents of our employees – to turn their ideas into action and support their efforts to lead social change. Teens bring passion and enthusiasm to tackling tough issues. They’re also important to our business – they shop in our stores, and they’re our future employees. There’s a real opportunity to listen to – and learn from – what teens have to say. And through the @15 Fund, we’ll put the philanthropic power of @15 directly into their hands. To learn more, visit www.at15.com.
About The Common Ground Foundation
The Common Ground Foundation is extremely committed to the empowerment and development of urban youth in the United States. Through exposure and participation in educational endeavors, the Common Ground Foundation creates a positive atmosphere for learning and understanding and fulfills objectives of increased learning outcomes in reading and writing. For more information, please visit www.commongroundfoundation.org.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $40 billion annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately 165,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2008, we donated a combined $31.8 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuyinc.com.
