The Home Depot Foundation Pledges More Than $1.6 Million to Support Veterans
Funding will benefit 10 programs that serve hundreds of male and female veterans nationwide
For Immediate Release:
Contacts:
David Burch, Senior Director, Communications
Volunteers of America
703-341-5054 (o), dburch@voa.org
Lisa Walsh, Senior Manager, Team Depot Communications
The Home Depot Foundation
770-384-4281 (o), Lisa_Walsh@HomeDepot.com
Alexandria, Va. (June 30, 2015) – Building upon a partnership that has helped thousands of U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation has pledged more than $1.6 million in new grants to Volunteers of America to address the critical housing needs of former service members. The grant will support 10 Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in seven states. These grants will help refurbish or build 354 units of housing for veterans, including 79 earmarked specifically for women veterans. Since beginning its partnership with Volunteers of America in 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has given nearly $10 million to the organization to improve housing solutions for homeless veterans and their families. The partnership between the two organizations has funded more than 73 veterans’ housing projects, providing more than 2,500 units for veterans, including more than 400 units specifically for women veterans and their families in Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington. In addition to the grants, Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, has completed countless projects to improve Volunteers of America’s veteran housing facilities.
Affiliates and housing programs receiving new grants from The Home Depot Foundation include:
• Volunteers of America National Services (“Hope Manor Joliet”): Permanent supportive housing for 67 male and female veterans in Joliet, Ill.
• Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles (“Norbo Hotel” & “Marion Hotel”): Transitional housing for 104 male and female veterans and their families at two sites in Los Angeles.
• Volunteers of America North Louisiana (“Embassy House Apartments”): Transitional housing for 40 male and female veterans in Shreveport, La.
• Volunteers of America Florida (“Ritz Reserve”): Transitional housing for 12 male and female veterans at a repurposed former resort hotel in Ocala, Fla.
• Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans (“Napoleon” & “Dupree” Veterans Transitional Housing): Transitional housing for 46 male veterans at two sites in New Orleans.
• Volunteers of America Indiana (“Brandon Hall Veteran Housing”): Transitional housing for 60 male veterans in Indianapolis.
• Volunteers of America Colorado Branch (“Veteran Service Center - Denver”): Service center near downtown Denver that will connect veterans to each other, maximize the effectiveness of veterans service organizations, and serve as a resource to the veteran community at-large by providing a one-stop shop for services.
• Volunteers of America Pennsylvania (“Homeward Bound”): Renovation of 25 single-family homes for veterans and their families in Dauphin County, Pa.
Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of vulnerable veterans. Nationally, it serves approximately 40,000 veterans each year who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
The partnership with Volunteers of America is part of The Home Depot’s nationwide commitment to improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families. In the last four years, Team Depot, the company’s associate-led volunteer force, has transformed more than 17,000 homes for veterans and their families with the support of more than $85 million in donations from The Home Depot Foundation. To learn more about the partnership with Volunteers of America, please visit www.voa.org/the-home-depot.
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. Learn more at www.voa.org.
About Giving Back at The Home Depot
Since the first The Home Depot store opened in 1979, giving back has been a core value for the Company and a passion for its associates. Today, The Home Depot, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families and aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Through Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force, thousands of associates dedicate their time and talents to these efforts in the communities where they live and work.
Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $85 million to provide safe housing to veterans, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 17,000 homes for veterans. To learn more and see Team Depot in action, visit www.homedepot.com/teamdepot.
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