Volunteers of America Receives $1M from The Home Depot® Foundation to Provide Homes and Services to Vets in Need
Funding will benefit 12 programs that serve hundreds of homeless vets nationwide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
David Burch, Volunteers of America
Office: (703) 341-5054
dburch@voa.org
Media Contact
David Burch, Volunteers of America
Office: (703) 341-5054
dburch@voa.org
Alexandria, Va. (October 3, 2011) – As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation today announced $1 million in grants to human service charity Volunteers of America to address the critical need for housing and services for U.S. military veterans.
Grants announced today include $750,000 for 11 Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in 10 cities. These grants will be used to build or refurbish transitional housing for 242 veterans, and to provide eight single-family homes for lease or lease-purchase by veterans with families. An additional $250,000 will be provided to Tampa-based Volunteers of America of Florida to fund a mobile service van to provide help to veterans in need throughout the state. Since beginning its partnership with Volunteers of America in April 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has pledged a total of $2.8 million to the organization over three years to benefit homeless veterans, with $1.6 million allocated so far.
Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations addressing veterans’ needs. Nationally, it serves more than 7,700 homeless veterans each year through 35 programs in 15 states. Housing initiatives receiving new grants from The Home Depot Foundation include:
- Volunteers of America Southeast (“Housing for Heroes”): Eight single-family homes, each with three to four bedrooms, for purchase or lease-purchase by veterans with families. Homes are located in six Alabama cities – Boaz, Centerville, Cullman, Huntsville, Mobile and Woodville.
- Volunteers of America of Florida (“Stately Veterans Housing”): Transitional housing for 14 homeless veterans and families in Jacksonville, Fla.
- Volunteers of America Indiana (“Liberty Landing”): Transitional housing for 49 homeless male and female veterans in Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Volunteers of America of Kentucky: Transitional housing for 20 homeless male veterans in Louisville, Ky.
- Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge (“A Retreat for our Heroes”): Transitional housing for nine homeless and disabled male veterans in Baton Rouge, La.
- Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans (“Veterans Housing Napoleon, Dupree and Gayoso”): Transitional housing for 56 homeless male veterans in New Orleans.
- Volunteers of America North Louisiana: Transitional housing for 56 homeless male and female veterans in Shreveport, La.
- Volunteers of America Michigan (“Veterans Independence Program”): Transitional housing for 18 homeless male veterans in Niles, Mich.
- Volunteers of America Dakotas: Transitional housing for nine homeless male and female veterans in Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Volunteers of America Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho (“Eagle’s Rest”): Transitional housing for six homeless male veterans in Spokane, Wash.
- Volunteers of America Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho (“Rest and Recoup House”): Transitional housing for five homeless male veterans in Spokane, Wash.
The Home Depot Foundation also announced on Monday an additional gift of $250,000 to Volunteers of America of Florida to pilot a mobile service van for homeless veterans throughout the state. Grant support will be used to provide necessary home repairs and modifications for disabled and elderly veterans, who will be referred by Veterans’ Administration home healthcare providers; and to equip a repair truck, pay for a full-time repair expert, as well as provide job experience for veterans in a job training program.
Adding to the grants, Volunteers of America affiliates will be supported by Team Depot®, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force. Team Depot volunteers have already made a difference at Volunteers of America homeless veteran housing sites across the country. Recent volunteer activities have taken place in Los Angeles and Cleveland, and another event is planned soon in Detroit.
These grants were announced as part of The Home Depot Foundation’s “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans. Each Monday between Sept. 11 and Veterans Day (Nov. 11), The Home Depot Foundation will announce approximately $1 million in grants to veterans’ initiatives for a total of $9.1 million. Grants announced during “Celebration of Service” are part of The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment of $30 million over three years to veterans’ housing needs.
“The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home, and the services provided by Volunteers of America affiliates are essential to fulfilling that goal,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. “We are impressed by the quality of work being done by Volunteers of America, and we hope that our assistance will allow them to serve even more veterans and their families.”
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About Celebration of Service
“Celebration of Service” is a major campaign by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to enhance the lives of U.S. military veterans and to highlight the needs and opportunities they face. The campaign includes:
• 200 service projects: In partnership with The Mission Continues, The Home Depot associate-volunteers will be completing 200 service projects directly aimed at improving homes, facilities and community centers where veterans and their families live and receive services.
• $9 million in grants: Each Monday between September 11 and November 11, The Home Depot Foundation will announce grants of approximately $1 million to nonprofits dedicated to veterans’ housing issues
• A gift card that gives back: When customers purchase this specially-themed Home Depot gift card during Celebration of Service, 5 percent of the value placed on the card will go to The Home Depot Foundation to support nonprofits dedicated to veterans’ housing needs. Gift cards may be purchased in The Home Depot stores or online at www.homedepot.com.
• 3 Doors Down: During Celebration of Service, when you buy multi-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down’s new CD “Time of My Life” from www.homedepot.com, $1 of the sale will go directly to support The Home Depot Foundation’s veterans’ housing initiatives. The music of 3 Doors Down has inspired and comforted veterans, active duty troops and their families for many years
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. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. 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.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every U.S. military veteran has a safe place to call home. In April 2011, the Foundation pledged a three-year, $30 million initiative to address veterans’ critical housing needs.
Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook.
