Teen Service Announcement (TSA) provides testimonials in support of new teen-led social change platform
January 28, MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today unveiled a new TSA ("Teen Service Announcement") featuring Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Ludacris at www.at15.org. Ludacris participated in the TSA as an early supporter of @15, a new 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.
Christopher Bridges, better known by his stage name Ludacris, is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop artist and actor. He is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Ludacris is the highest-selling Southern hip-hop solo artist of all time with over 15 million units sold in the United States.
"We all make mistakes, but you have to learn from your mistakes. Try not to make the same mistakes twice in life. We all have teenage years where we kind of were rebellious and just doing things that we're finding out about life," said Ludacris in his online TSA. "We've all been through some bad situations and you learn from them and you become a better person because of it. Adversity can make you a stronger person."
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. Over the next several months, the @15 Web site, along with its social networking pages and YouTube channel, will feature messages from teens engaged in Best Buy programs, celebrities and musicians, and Members of Congress.
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.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.
Contacts
Best Buy Co., Inc.
Kelly Groehler, 612-291-6115
kelly.groehler@bestbuy.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Amanda Wolbrom, 212-445-8230
awolbrom@webershandwick.com
