Lowe's sponsors National Women Build Week

Lowe's Pledges $20 Million to Habitat For Humanity International
03/04/2009


ATLANTA -- Habitat for Humanity International announced last week that Lowe's is extending its ongoing commitment to Habitat's affordable-housing work across the country with a new five-year, $20 million commitment.



"We realize our help in building affordable housing and promoting safe, secure communities is more relevant than ever," said Robert A. Niblock, Lowe's chairman and CEO. "As an organization committed to improving the communities we call home, we believe that extending our partnership with Habitat for Humanity will help these communities continue to address the tremendous need for affordable housing."



Lowe's new commitment to Habitat through 2013 will bring the company's aggregate Habitat contributions since 2003 to nearly $40 million. With the renewed commitment, Lowe's will continue to underwrite Habitat's Women Build program, a national volunteer movement encouraging women to learn construction skills and make a difference by building homes and helping to end poverty housing. This includes sponsorship of "National Women Build Week," a nationwide homebuilding initiative leading up to Mother's Day, and funding for a variety of build projects across the country.



Through 2008, Lowe's has supported nearly 1,500 Habitat houses built or renovated in the United States with grants ranging in size from $1,000 to $50,000. Additionally, Lowe's is one of Habitat's largest disaster-relief donors, contributing nearly $3 million domestically to Gulf Coast Recovery and internationally to Habitat's Asian Tsunami recovery effort.



Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, emphasized that the effects of Lowe's support go beyond the funding contributed and houses built.

"The generous contributions of our partners have a financial impact that goes well beyond the construction and renovation of homes," Reckford said. "Every time Lowe's helps Habitat—with funding or by sharing their expertise at an in-store clinic or through countless employee volunteer hours on the build site—those efforts create a ripple effect that is felt throughout the entire local community. New construction always inspires hope. Lowe's generosity will bless untold numbers of people, especially during these difficult times."


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