Lowe's / Habitat for Humanity Women Build Partnership

Since 2003, Lowe’s has contributed millions of dollars and countless hours of volunteer support to Habitat for Humanity International. Lowe’s has also collected more than $1.2 million in in-store customer donations for tsunami relief and its annual “Homes for the Holidays” initiative.

The many accomplishments so far are part of a five-year commitment with Habitat for Humanity International. The Lowe’s relationship with Habitat has helped to build hundreds of homes across the United States.

Lowe’s was the co-premiere sponsor of Habitat’s 2003 Jimmy Carter Work Project, which built 92 homes in Georgia and Alabama. In 2005, Lowe’s was an event-wide sponsor of Habitat’s Jimmy Carter Work Project in Michigan. Lowe’s sponsored a house in both Benton Harbor and Detroit, provided a $2,000 in-store credit for each of the 230 homes being built as part of JCWP, and provided $10,000 for each Michigan affiliate constructing a Women Build house.

In August 2005, Lowe’s sponsored Much to Celebrate More to Build marking the milestone building of the organization’s 200,000th and 200,001st houses in Knoxville, Tenn., and Kanyakumari, India. Most recently, Lowe’s partnered with Habitat International on Operation Home Delivery, HFHI’s long-term Gulf Coast rebuilding plan. Lowe’s donated the building materials needed construct two homes and 60 framing packages in New York City, and six framing packages in both Jackson, Miss., and Los Angeles, Calif.

Lowe’s also sponsored the two-year First Families Building Homes Across America initiative in 2006-2007, and has been a consistent supporter of Habitat’s rebuilding efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast. In 2008, Lowe’s served as the sponsor of National Women Build Week, May 4-10, that witnessed Women Build projects by 150 affiliates.

Lowe’s and Women Build
Lowe’s is the Women Build underwriter and its major house sponsor at the national level. Lowe’s has made a three-year commitment to Women Build, and from San Francisco to Pensacola, women from all walks of life commit themselves to working with Lowe’s and other supporters, doing something extraordinary. Each year, women work together building homes with Habitat families to create better futures for their children and communities.

In 2005, 19 Women Build homes were started during Mother’s Day week in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Des Moines, Hartford, Oklahoma City, Olympia, Omaha, Pensacola (site of two builds), Phoenix, Richmond, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Tacoma and Winston-Salem. More builds followed throughout the year.

In 2006-2007, Lowe’s committed to partially sponsoring Women Builds in every state as part of the First Families Building Homes Across America initiative. Construction for many of these homes commenced on Mother’s Day and continued throughout the year as additional funding and First Spouses schedules allow.

“Lowe’s involvement with Women Build is much more than a financial arrangement – it is a reflection of our commitment to address the nationwide issue of substandard housing,” said Larry Stone, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “We are helping to build homes everyone can take pride in--our employees, the volunteers, the partner families and the communities.”

Accessing support from Lowe’s
To inquire about support from Lowe’s, please contact www.lowes.com/habitat.

Local Lowe’s stores are also ready to help in many ways. Some ideas include:

• Training: Lowe’s offers a selection of clinics for Women Build volunteers to help them become more comfortable around tools and job sites

• In-kind/product donations: Lowe’s is pleased to be able to offer donated or discounted items for use in Habitat build projects or ReStores.

“By leading these Women Build clinics, we are providing volunteers two very important tools for success: how-to knowledge and the opportunity to practice new skills. These projects also have a ripple effect—individually they strengthen a woman’s confidence in her construction know-how, and collectively they reinforce the importance of working together to build stronger communities.”

--Chris Ahearn, public relations director for Lowe’s

Tips for working with your local Lowe’s store

• Build a relationship with your local Lowe’s store and manager.

• Provide local Lowe’s management with a tour of your job site and/or ReStore.

• Inquire about Lowe’s Heroes.

• Take advantage of Lowe’s commercial programs.

• Tap into Lowe’s expertise.

• Use your local Lowe’s as a resource.

• Let Lowe’s assist your leadership.

• Proactively get Lowe’s involved on your build site.

• Be pleasantly persistent. Your local Lowe’s is here to help. But be sensitive to the fact that the retail business can be fast-paced and demanding. Don’t assume that an unreturned call signals disinterest from your local Lowe’s. It could have just been a busy day. Feel free to stop by the store to talk to the store manager, schedule a meeting for another day or make a brief request.

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and Lowe’s Heroes
Lowe’s is also a proud supporter of American Red Cross, United Way of America and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous nonprofit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation awards more than $3 million annually to diverse organizations across the United States.

Lowe’s encourages volunteerism through the Lowe’s Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer program aimed at preventing unintentional home injuries. Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 company, has more than 1,100 stores in 48 states. For more information, visit http://www.Lowes.com/community.