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Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes vaulted the program into the spotlight this morning, kicking off the initiative at one of the 50 Clubs, the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem in New York City. The nationwide revitalization effort will enhance both the environment and the experience for more than 50,000 Club members, driving new membership among kids and teens. Dawes, a long-time friend of Boys & Girls Clubs and a mother herself, understands the value of the Club experience in bringing hope and strength to kids and teens in need of a safe and inspiring place to go after school.
"Boys & Girls Clubs drive academic success, influence positive health and wellness, and build good character and citizenship for America's kids and teens, putting them on a path to great futures," said Jim Clark, president and chief executive officer of BGCA. "Our partnership with Lowe's holistically impacts Clubs – addressing critical improvements needed while bringing the skills and dedication of Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers to leave a lasting mark on Clubs and in the lives of our members, staff and local communities."
To create the largest single initiative ever undertaken by Lowe's and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, one Club in each state was selected from Clubs in need of significant repairs and improvements. Lowe's will support a wide range of enhancements ranging from kitchen repairs to amenities that influence creativity and well-being like music studios and counseling spaces. To see a full list of Renovation Across the Nation Club recipients, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America partner page.
To further commemorate Renovation Across the Nation, each Club will mark the occasion with an original mural masterpiece, uniquely designed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2016 National Fine Arts "Best in Show" winner. Debora C., a 16-year-old member of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, was selected to design a mural that represents what belonging to a Club means to her and all the young people who make Boys & Girls Clubs part of their lives. Debora C. will paint her original mural design in Harlem, and then each Club will be able to stencil and customize the design to their location and engage Club members and Lowe's Heroes in hand painting the mural with paint donated by Sherwin-Williams.
"Over the last six years, my Club has empowered my passion for art and I've been supported by the mentors and friends who have encouraged me along the way," said Debora C. "When sketching the mural I wanted to bring the values, growth and opportunities that come with being a Club member to life through my design."
Lowe's Heroes will provide hands-on support from a volunteer force of more than 1,000 employees to complete critical repairs at each of the 50 Renovation Across the Nation Clubs.
"Since 2009, Lowe's and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have refurbished and improved 130 Clubs across the country to provide young people with safe places to learn and grow," said James Frison, Lowe's director of community relations. "We're significantly expanding that partnership this year with Renovation Across the Nation so we can make a larger impact on kids and teens - who will become our leaders of tomorrow - all across the country in the communities we serve."
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly four million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at Facebook and Twitter.
About Lowe's in the Community
Lowe's, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed more than $250 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.
SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
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