The Home Depot Foundation Makes Major Grants to the Semper Fi Fund, Military Warriors Support Foundation and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) ATLANTA, GA - October 10, 2011 - As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot Foundation® today announced a total of almost $1 million in grants to the Military Warriors Support Foundation, the Semper Fi Fund and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.  Each organization provides housing assistance to injured and disabled veterans by funding handicapped accessible modifications and renovations to existing homes as well as new housing. 

“We are committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. “For injured and disabled veterans, a ‘safe’ home often requires expensive modifications to adapt it to their needs.  Military Warrior Support Foundation, the Semper Fi Fund and Tunnel to Towers Foundation each directly supports the needs of service members and veterans who have bravely served our country and, in many cases, have suffered traumatic injuries.  We are honored to support these organizations and increase their capacity to serve those who have served us all.”

In addition to receiving funding, all three organizations will be supported by Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force:

Military Warrior Support Foundation (MWSF), $415,000
Through its Homes4WoundedHeroes program, Military Warriors Support Foundation awards mortgage-free homes to service members who are disabled and have severe or unique circumstances due to the injuries they received during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to home donations from Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, MWSF has been able to provide 61 veterans and their families with homes, and it has the goal of donating 1,000 homes over the next five years.  The Home Depot already has been involved with MWSF by providing repairs and renovations to these homes to prepare them for the families.

Adding to the Company’s support, The Home Depot Foundation is also providing $415,000 in funding to support MWSF’s efforts to not only get disabled veterans and their families into homes, but to keep them there.  The Foundation’s funding will support three years of family and financial mentoring as well as a $1,000 gift card to The Home Depot for any incidentals they may need.

Semper Fi Fund, $500,000
The Semper Fi Fund provides immediate financial support for post 9-11 injured and critically ill Marines and their families, as well as members of the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard who serve in support of Marine forces.  The assistance provided by Semper Fi Fund ranges from providing specialized and adaptive equipment to adaptive transportation and housing.  Since it was founded in 2004, the organization has issued more than 33,000 grants totaling more than $53 million to thousands of war heroes and their families.

The Home Depot Foundation’s grant support will be used to used to support Semper Fi Fund’s Housing Assistance Program to provide repairs and modifications to the homes of wounded and critically ill service members. 

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation, $50,000
Founded to honor the legacy of Stephen Siller, a member of the Fire Department of New York, who sacrificed his life on 9/11, the Tunnel to Tower Foundation supports firefighters and military service members who have been seriously injured and sacrificed their quality of life in the line of duty.  The Home Depot Foundation’s $50,000 grant will be used to assist in funding the modifications needed in newly built homes for two quadriplegic amputee veterans.

Today’s announcement is the fifth of weekly grant announcements during The Home Depot Foundation’s “Celebration of Service” campaign to honor U.S. military veterans. Each Monday between September 11 and Veterans Day (November 11), The Home Depot Foundation is announcing approximately $1 million in grants to veterans’ initiatives for a total of $9.1 million by Veterans Day.  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.  Visit www.homedepotfoundation.org/celebrationofservice to learn more.

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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