ATLANTA, Jan. 17,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot Foundation is
committing an additional $2 million
to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery needs
in Southern California communities
impacted by wildfires, increasing its initial investment to
$3 million after further
conversations with on-the-ground nonprofit partners revealed the
scope of the damage as rebuilding efforts begin.
The Home Depot Foundation's $3
million commitment includes:
- $2 million to disaster
response nonprofit partners, such as Team Rubicon, World Central
Kitchen and Convoy of Hope, among others, to support immediate
relief needs as well as long-term recovery efforts.
- $1 million to our Path to
Pro efforts to help fill the skilled labor gap as communities
rebuild.
"Rebuilding will require skilled workers in construction, an
industry that is already understaffed," said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot
Foundation. "With tens of thousands of structures and many of The
Home Depot's associates and customers impacted by the fires, it's
important that we address the immediate needs of communities while
also ensuring they are equipped to rebuild."
Since the wildfires began spreading earlier this month, stores
have donated water, masks and other essential supplies to local
nonprofits and individuals in need. Team Rubicon, a national
partner of the Foundation and veteran-led humanitarian
organization, has been using The Home Depot store in Simi Valley as a rally point to deploy
hundreds of volunteers and resources to the Oak Park community, which was part of the
mandatory evacuation zone. Team Rubicon is also assisting survivors
across the Los Angeles area with
educational materials and much-needed supplies.
"We have thousands of volunteers in the greater metro
Los Angeles area, which is
growing by the day," said Team Rubicon CEO Art delaCruz.
"Because of The Home Depot Foundation's initial
investment in our organization in 2012, and its continued support
of Team Rubicon, that volunteer force has grown
exponentially and we're able to provide more relief and
recovery services for natural disasters like
this."
The Home Depot's employee assistance fund, The Homer Fund, has
also activated its emergency grant program to ensure associates who
have lost their homes or are under mandatory evacuations have
access to safe housing, clothes, food and other essentials.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit supported by The
Home Depot (NYSE: HD), works to improve the homes and
lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural
disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap.
Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $550
million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000
veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to
invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030
and $50 million in training the next generation of
skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program by 2028. To
learn more about The Home Depot Foundation
visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow us
on Twitter @HomeDepotFound and
on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.
About Path to Pro
In the U.S., there are more than 400,000 open construction jobs
today, a number that is only growing. Through the Path to Pro
Program, The Home Depot Foundation offers free training
opportunities and scholarships to introduce youth, underserved
communities and separating U.S. military servicemembers to
meaningful careers in plumbing, carpentry, electrical and HVAC.
Additionally, The Home Depot connects skilled tradespeople to
construction job openings and offers free, virtual classes on
careers in the trades. For more information, visit
PathtoPro.com.
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SOURCE The Home Depot Foundation