Teen Service Announcement (TSA) provides testimonials in support
of new teen-led social change platform
Best Buy Co., Inc. today unveiled a new TSA (“Teen Service
Announcement”) featuring pop-punk band Fall Out Boy at www.at15.org.
Fall Out Boy participated in the TSA as supporters of @15, the teen-led
social change platform underwritten by Best Buy to give teens a voice
and provide them with opportunities to direct the company’s philanthropy
through the @15 Fund.
Formed in 2001 in Wilmette, IL, Fall Out Boy consists of Patrick Stump
(lead vocals and guitar), Joe Trohman (guitar and vocals), Pete Wentz
(bass guitar and vocals) and Andy Hurley (drums and percussion). The
band reached mainstream success in 2005 with their first major label
album, “From Under the Cork Tree”. The album debuted on the Billboard
200 at number 9 and went on to achieve double platinum status selling
more than 2.5 million albums in the United States alone. With 3 major
albums under their belt, the band has received 6 Teen Choice Awards, 4
MTV Video Music Awards and a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the
2006 Grammy Awards.
Being a part of the alternative genre, Fall Out Boy has dealt with the
difficult perceptions of fitting in and offered their advice to teens in
the latest TSA. “When you’re 15 you feel under all this pressure and
duress to find this identity that you’ll live out for the rest of your
life, and that just never happens,” Stump said. “No one really fits into
a mold, so when you feel like you’re the outcast there’s really nothing
to be an outcast of. You’ll never fit into just one mold so don’t worry
about it, just be yourself and live life.”
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, China, Europe and Mexico, 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 $45
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, Bath
and Electronic Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately
155,000 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 2009, we donated a combined
$33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our
employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best
Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.
Best Buy
Erin Gunderson, 612-291-7286
erin.gunderson@bestbuy.com
or
Weber
Shandwick
Rob Mathis, 202-585-2821
rmathis@webershandwick.com
