NASCAR standout and Columbus Indiana native Tony Stewart — whose car is sponsored by Office Depot — joined Sagamore President Jay Hein and Office Depot Foundation President Mary Wong for Office Depot’s “Back-to-School Backpack Celebration.” At the event, Stewart helped to hand out 5,000 backpacks to children who are returning to school. The addition of the 5,000 backpacks brings ODF’s aggregate to 2 million backpacks donated.

The Sagamore Institute along with ODF awarded Stewart with their annual Community Service award for his work with Office Depot’s charity.

The backpack giveaway came on the heels of Sagamore’s “Innovation in the Classroom” event, which was co-hosted by the Office Depot Foundation. The gathering welcomed The Mind Trust’s Education Entrepreneur Fellow Nicole Baker Fulgham, Senior Director of USA-TODAY Education Debby Dodge, Herron High School Board President Joanna Taft, and Herron High School Principal Janet McNeal among others for a conversation on cutting-edge innovation and best practices in engaging the nation’s students.”