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Office Depot has its paws up! The company has announced it will donate at least $1 million to support Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, a move that is being met with both applause and (not surprisingly) some backlash.
More after the jump.
The Born This Way Foundation’s mission is to encourage today’s youth to grow up feeling confident about their individuality.
According to their press release, “Custom products include empowerment gift cards (with a face value of $20), with one of six messages on the front: ‘Be Brave,’ ‘Be Amazing,’ ‘Be Yourself,’ ‘Be Kind,’ ‘Be Accepting,’ and ‘Be Involved.’ Parents, students, and teachers can use the $20 gift card to purchase incredible back-to-school essentials at Office Depot, and afterwards can proudly clip their cards to their backpack or belt loop showing their support of the movement.
Also available will be limited-edition “Kindness Sticks” Post-It® Notes, limited-edition Sharpie® pens, and unique “Bravery Bracelets,” each of which feature Born This Way Foundation’s logo, as well as the same six messages of empowerment as the gift cards.”
Twenty-five percent of the sales of these limited edition products will be donated to the Born This Way Foundation, with a guaranteed donation of $1 million this year.
Cynthia Germanotta, aka Grandmother Monster (she’s Gaga’s mom) and president of the Born This Way Foundation, says “Office Depot is a place that brings together students as well as their families and teachers, who play such an important role in inspiring and supporting today's youth. With Office Depot's support, we will empower millions of young people this back-to-school season, letting them know that it's okay to be yourself.”
Bob Moore, chief marketing officer for Office Depot, shares the love, stating: “Born This Way Foundation is an inspirational organization that has the power to make a difference in the lives of today's youth and we are honored to join this movement and help raise awareness for such an important cause.”
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled by Office Depot’s support of empowerment and inclusiveness.
The Florida Family Association’s David Caton is attacking the “irresponsible message to many teens who would have eventually chose to be straight.”
Caton writes:
“Thousands of kids who might have otherwise worked through their pubescent sexual identity issues will be inspired to accept the wrong choice based upon this unscientific, emotionally charged born this way propaganda. What’s brave or kind about telling thousands of sexually frustrated teens that they were born this way when a high percentage of them would have ended up taking the straight heterosexual path for life?
Thousands of kids who might have otherwise worked through their pubescent sexual identity issues will be inspired to accept the wrong choice based upon this unscientific, emotionally charged propaganda.
What’s brave or kind about telling thousands of sexually frustrated teens that they were Born This Way when a high percentage of them would have ended up taking the straight heterosexual path for life?
Please urge Office Depot to rescind their one million dollar pledge to Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation.”
We’ll let you decide whether telling someone to “Be Brave,” “Be Kind,” or “Be Amazing” will alter their sexual orientation for years to come.
In the meantime, well done Office Depot!!
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