@15

I'd like to take the time to pay proper attention to Best Buys main success : @15.

Best Buy understands the saying that "children are our future". They get that and they want to start helping teens now. At https://www.at15.com/, Best Buy gives teens the power. Through the @15 program, teens get to decide where Best Buy donates their money. Best Buy created @15 to give teens a voice and a say in the world. Teens decide, not Best Buy!

So how does it work?

The @15 Points Program earns you points for everything on this site and then you get the chance to make a difference. Four times a year, you are able to give your points to your choice of charitable organizations and Best Buy donates the money.

Do you or your teen want to be a teen spokesperson? Right now, Best Buy is giving teens the unique chance to have their voice heard. @15 is giving teens the opportunity to speak at events around the country to tell the story of what it’s like to be a teen today and what we can all do to make sure teens are successful in life. To apply, teens have to prepare a short video on the role of teens in American society. To become a member of @15 is FREE and you get access to forums, games, contests and more!

One new game is a Taylor Swift trivia game, Taylor Swift is a new special teen advisor on the @15 advisory board. How old were you when you started driving? Were you 15, 16 or 17 depending on where you live? Best Buy knows this! If you want tips on how to drive or ride safer in a car, @15 has tips for you!

There are many different partners with Best Buy's @15 program, some of which are: Boys and Girls Club of America, Mouse Squad, Mercy Corps and Communities In Schools.

There are many events going on right now with @15. In June, 15 winning teens from at15.com are headed to South Africa to attend a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ soccer match. In May, 1,000 college bound students will be announced as scholarship winners through the @15 scholarship program.

Voting is open for teens to get their school the money they need! Over $1,500 in Best Buy gift cards will be awarded to schools every 15 days. According to Best Buy, sparks are talents, passions or gifts that give you energy, motivation, focus and joy. On the @15 website there is an interactive tool to help you explore and find your sparks.

Best Buy also uses social media to promote their @15 program. You can visit Best Buy on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Myspace. It's cool that they do this, because these are all sites that teens are always on. They are reaching teens on their level in their own terms. The @15 website also has its own blog. Here they blog about important issues and @15 members can write comments.

As you can see, Best Buy's main focus is on teens. And why wouldn't it be? Teens are their future consumers. Teens tell their parents now what technology to buy. Teens know technology now and they will know it later. So who better to give a voice to? Teens decide where Best Buy donates their money - and thanks to Best Buy that is exactly what teens get to do!