The Home Depot Foundation Announces $920,000 in New Grants to Nonprofits Serving Veterans

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Atlanta, GA - November 2, 2011 - As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation today announced $920,000 in grants to four nonprofits dedicated to addressing the critical housing needs of U.S. military veterans. Grant recipients include Help USA, Quest 35, Senior Citizens Services of Metropolitan Atlanta and Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia.  Today’s grants will fund repairs and renovations of almost 200 units of housing and individual homes for veterans and their families.

Since September 11, The Home Depot Foundation has announced a total of $9 million in grants to 28 nonprofits serving veterans and active duty military personnel.  Grants announced during “Celebration of Service” are part of The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment of $30 million over three years to veterans’ housing needs.  Learn more about the nonprofit organizations supported by these grants. 

“The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. “We are committing both grant dollars and volunteer resources to organizations like Help USA, Quest 35, Senior Citizens Services of Metropolitan Atlanta and Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia, because they are doing the hard work every day of serving veterans and their families.  We are honored to serve those who have served us all.”

In addition to receiving funding, each nonprofit will also be supported by Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force:

Help USA, $400,000
Help USA provides permanent supportive housing for individual veterans and veteran families at 30 sites in 11 communities nationwide.  Through its Operation Home program, Help USA is developing more than 1,000 units of housing for male and female veterans and their families.

With grant support from The Home Depot Foundation as well as volunteer expertise from Team Depot, Help USA is renovating Abrams Hall on the campus of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  After renovations are complete, Abrams Hall will serve as supportive housing for 75 formerly homeless veterans and their families.

Good360, The Home Depot Foundation’s product donation nonprofit partner, will provide linens and mattresses for all of the units.

Quest 35, Inc., $100,000
Quest 35’s mission is to develop and implement affordable supportive housing programs that service the special need homeless and/or low income populations, including veterans.  Currently, Quest 35 operates 57 units with 140 beds of housing and supportive services throughout Atlanta, Georgia.

With the support of The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot, Quest 35 will complete the renovation of 12 two-bedroom garden apartments to provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans in the Vine City neighborhood.  Called Veterans Village, this project is part of a multi-stage initiative to revitalize the Rock Street area.  On November 11, 50 Team Depot associates will volunteer their time and talents to complete landscaping on the facility, culminating in a grand opening of the homes on that day.

Senior Citizens Services of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. (SCS), $170,000
SCS supports senior independence through meals, shelter, education and community.  Through its HOMES Program, SCS assists 400-700 seniors annually with roofs and other repairs and modifications.  Through grant support from The Home Depot Foundation, SCS will address the home repair needs of at least 20 veterans on their waiting list.  Team Depot volunteers will also be involved in assisting with many of the repair needs.

Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia, Inc. (VEO), $250,000
VEO provides transitional and permanent housing to homeless veterans.  Currently, the organization has 60 units of transitional supportive housing, along with 25 units of affordable permanent supportive housing.  The Home Depot Foundation’s grant will be used to increase VEO’s ability to serve more veterans by acquiring and renovating a 32-unit apartment complex that will provide transitional and permanent housing for 92 veterans, with 20 apartments reserved specifically for female veterans.  Team Depot volunteers will assist in painting and landscaping the new complex.

ABOUT CELEBRATION OF SERVICE
“Celebration of Service” is a major campaign by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to enhance the lives of U.S. military veterans and to highlight the needs and opportunities they face.  The campaign includes:

• 200 service projects: In partnership with The Mission Continues, The Home Depot associate-volunteers will be completing 200 service projects directly aimed at improving homes, facilities and community centers where veterans and their families live and receive services. 

• $9 million in grants:  From September 11 through November 11, The Home Depot Foundation will announce grants of up to $1 million to nonprofits dedicated to veterans’ housing issues

• A gift card that gives back:  When customers purchase this specially-themed Home Depot gift card during Celebration of Service, five percent of the value placed on the card will go to The Home Depot Foundation to support nonprofits dedicated to veterans’ housing needs.  Gift cards may be purchased in our stores or online at www.homedepot.com.

• 3 Doors Down:  During Celebration of Service, when you buy multi-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down’s new CD “Time of My Life” from www.homedepot.com, $1 of the sale will go directly to support The Home Depot Foundation’s veterans’ housing initiatives.  The music of 3 Doors Down has inspired and comforted veterans, active duty troops and their families for many years

To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment to veterans and “Celebration of Service” campaign, please visit www.homedepotfoundation.org. 

ABOUT THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION
The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every U.S. military veteran has a safe place to call home.  In April 2011, the Foundation pledged a three-year, $30 million initiative to address veterans’ critical housing needs.

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities.  To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

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