The Home Depot Foundation Completes $1 Million Investment in Joplin Recovery Fund with $180,000 in Donations to Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity, Rebuild Joplin, and TEAMeffort, Inc.

(3BL Media) Atlanta, GA - May 22, 2012 – As a tribute to the Joplin, Missouri community and a continuation of its commitment to help the city and its residents rebuild, The Home Depot® Foundation today announced $180,000 in donations to three nonprofit organizations:  Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity; Rebuild Joplin; and TEAMeffort, Inc.  With these donations, the Foundation’s support has reached $1 million for relief, recovery and long-term rebuilding efforts in the tornado-ravaged community.

“The devastation in Joplin last year was indescribable, and we immediately committed $1 million to support the nonprofits working to help the community and its residents rebuild,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation.  “While we are pleased to have met our financial commitment to the community, our support is not over.  As we know from working for decades with communities hit by natural disasters, the rebuilding will take years, and we are committed to Joplin for the long haul.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the residents of Joplin who continue to deal with the aftermath of last year’s events.”

In addition to providing financial assistance to the following nonprofits, associates from The Home Depot will volunteer their time and talents through Team Depot, the company’s associate-led volunteer force, to help with these rebuilding initiatives:   

• Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity - $50,000:  Since the tornado hit last year,  Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity has collaborated with Tulsa Habitat for Humanity and several other organizing partners to build 10 homes for families in need.  The organization is on a path to build 55-65 new houses this year.  The Home Depot Foundation’s donation will assist in providing construction supplies for each site.
• Rebuild Joplin - $75,000:  Through directed and coordinated services, Rebuild Joplin ensures that tornado-impacted residents have access to affordable and safe housing.  As part of The Home Depot Foundation’s national commitment to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home, this donation will be used to support the Rebuild Joplin’s home rebuilding program for military veterans. 
• TEAMeffort, Inc. - $65,000:  An international volunteer organization dedicated to disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts, TEAMeffort is preparing to bring more than 1,300 volunteers to Joplin during June and July.  Volunteers will build at least two homes and will assist in the construction process for another 30‐35 homes.  The Home Depot Foundation’s donation will be used to provide construction supplies for the volunteers.

Over the last year, the Foundation has also provided donations to Operation Blessing and Convoy of Hope for immediate relief supplies; Community Foundation of the Ozarks and James River Assemblies Charities to support residential recovery and rebuilding efforts; and the Joplin Family YMCA to provide free childcare to qualifying families in the aftermath of the storm.

About The Home Depot Foundation
In 2011, The Home Depot Foundation committed $30 million over three years to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the homes of economically disadvantaged veterans.  Through Team Depot, the company's associate-led volunteer program, thousands of Home Depot associates volunteer their time and talents to positively transform neighborhoods and perform basic repairs and modifications to homes and to the facilities serving veterans with critical housing needs.

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $300 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 at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.