The Home Depot Foundation Pledges Quarter of a Billion Dollars to Veteran-Related Causes by 2020

ATLANTA, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Today, The Home Depot Foundation announces it will grow its commitment to veteran-related causes to a quarter of a billion dollars by 2020.

The Home Depot Foundation has focused on U.S. military veteran support since 2011. Today's increased commitment will help address continued veteran challenges, including: 

• More than 39,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. More than one million veterans are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks and subpar living conditions.
• More than 3.8 million veterans have a service-connected disability.
• There has been a 60% increase in veterans with service-connected disabilities since 1990.
• More than 9.4 million veterans are age 65 and older. Many of these veterans need home modifications so they can age-in-place safely.

"We consider it a duty and honor to give back to our veterans," said The Home Depot Foundation board member and chair Giles Bowman. "We know they experience many challenges when they return from service and their home shouldn't be one of them. This increased commitment demonstrates our dedication to serving our nation's heroes."

The announcement kicks off The Home Depot Foundation's sixth annual Celebration of Service. Celebration of Service is a two-month-long campaign focused on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families. From September 1 through Veterans Day, Team Depot, The Home Depot's associate-led volunteer force, will work with local and national nonprofit organizations to complete projects for aging, combat-wounded and homeless veterans.

During the campaign, The Home Depot Foundation will partner with nonprofit organizations like the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to help create modified homes for combat-wounded veterans.

"Team Depot is a tremendous group of hard workers that stretch from coast to coast," said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "We can count on The Home Depot Foundation to help restore independence and dignity to veterans. We're proud to partner with such a generous, impactful company and organization."

How to Get Involved
Throughout the campaign, Team Depot is inviting consumers to 'celebrate service' on social media using #ServiceSelfie. For each #ServiceSelfie shared during Celebration of Service, The Home Depot Foundation will donate $1 up to $500,000 to organizations that help veterans including: Meals on Wheels America, Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Volunteers of America, Student Veterans of America and Team Rubicon.

To learn more about participation, please visit thd.co/givingback and visit Team Depot on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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 $160 million to provide housing to veterans, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has impacted more than 26,700 homes for veterans. To learn more and see Team Depot in action, visit www.homedepot.com/teamdepot.

Digital Press Kit Available at:
https://corporate.homedepot.com/celebration-of-service-press-kit

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SOURCE The Home Depot Foundation