The Home Depot Foundation, LISC, Greater Houston Development Inc and Francis Scott Key Middle School team up to repair Ike-damaged homes
14 May 2009
Ongoing hurricane Ike recovery and rebuilding efforts in Houston and Galveston.
Contact:Paula Drake, The Home Depot Foundation Amanda Timm, Houston LISC |
For Immediate Release:May 14, 2009 |
HOUSTON (May 14, 2009)—The Home Depot® Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Greater Houston Development Inc. teamed up today to help two Trinity Gardens families repair their hurricane-damaged homes in an Ike Recovery Work Day.
The Home Depot Foundation is funding a $700,000 effort through LISC to help homeowners in low- and moderate-income communities restore their homes. To date, work on 58 houses is either complete or in process; another dozen are on tap for the coming months. It's part of the Foundation's total $1 million commitment to Hurricane Ike recovery and rebuilding efforts in Houston and Galveston.
"The Home Depot Foundation was among the first groups to pledge assistance to some of Houston's hardest hit communities," noted Michael Rubinger, president and CEO of LISC. "No one had to call and ask for their help. They saw the damage. They saw the need. They acted. The Foundation is a tremendous partner for LISC nationally as well as for our local Houston program. The work we are doing today demonstrates their significant, ongoing commitment."
The Home Depot Foundation offered its support to Houston even before power was restored in the city, recalled Amanda Timm, executive director of Houston LISC. "Most of the city was still in the dark. So many things were still in chaos. But The Home Depot Foundation stepped in to lead the philanthropic response to that frightening day. Certainly, we are still feeling the effects of Ike, and will for some time yet," she continued. "But The Home Depot Foundation is still here helping. We are so grateful for their commitment to Houston communities."
Volunteers from The Home Depot, LISC and Greater Houston Development are being joined today by children from Francis Scott Key Middle School, who are planting trees donated by The Home Depot Foundation.
"The Home Depot, The Home Depot Foundation and our associate volunteers are uniquely equipped to help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster like Hurricane Ike," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. "But our commitment extends beyond the immediate disaster relief needs. Through partnerships with organizations like LISC, we support the long term efforts to rebuild homes in a healthy, sustainable way."
Rebuilding and restoration work on all homes through this initiative include energy efficient, environmentally friendly building techniques where possible, including:
- Low VOC paints to limit chemicals and improve air quality in the home
- Quality insulation and weatherization (including low E windows and ridge vents), which can save more than 20 percent on annual heating and cooling costs
- Mold and mildew remediation
- Efficient HVAC systems (12 SEER rating)
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 to further the community building goals of The Home Depot. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to building affordable homes for working families that are healthy to live in and affordable to own. To make homes healthy and affordable, the Foundation encourages developers to incorporate responsible design and use durable and quality materials to ensure that homes are more energy and water efficient, have good indoor air quality, and provide a safe and healthy space to live. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted $120 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 65,000 affordable, healthy homes. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $9 billion to build or rehab more than 244,000 affordable homes and develop 36 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $28 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org.
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Article Type: Press Release