The Home Depot Foundation is committing an additional $2 million to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery needs in Southern California communities impacted by wildfires, increasing its initial investment to $3 million after further conversations with on-the-ground nonprofit partners revealed the scope of the damage as rebuilding efforts begin.
The Home Depot Foundation’s $3 million commitment includes:
- $2 million to disaster response nonprofit partners, such as Team Rubicon, World Central Kitchen and Convoy of Hope, among others, to support immediate relief needs as well as long-term recovery efforts.
- $1 million to our Path to Pro efforts to help fill the skilled labor gap as communities rebuild.
“Rebuilding will require skilled workers in construction, an industry that is already understaffed,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “With tens of thousands of structures and many of The Home Depot’s associates and customers impacted by the fires, it’s important that we address the immediate needs of communities while also ensuring they are equipped to rebuild.”
Since the wildfires began spreading earlier this month, stores have donated water, masks and other essential supplies to local nonprofits and individuals in need. Team Rubicon, a national partner of the Foundation and veteran-led humanitarian organization, has been using The Home Depot store in Simi Valley as a rally point to deploy hundreds of volunteers and resources to the Oak Park community, which was part of the mandatory evacuation zone. Team Rubicon is also assisting survivors across the Los Angeles area with educational materials and much-needed supplies.
"We have thousands of volunteers in the greater metro Los Angeles area, which is growing by the day,” said Team Rubicon CEO Art delaCruz. “Because of The Home Depot Foundation’s initial investment in our organization in 2012, and its continued support of Team Rubicon, that volunteer force has grown exponentially and we’re able to provide more relief and recovery services for natural disasters like this.”
The Home Depot’s employee assistance fund, The Homer Fund, has also activated its emergency grant program to ensure associates who have lost their homes or are under mandatory evacuations have access to safe housing, clothes, food and other essentials.
To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org.
For more information about Path to Pro visit PathtoPro.com.
