LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2008 – Continuing a tradition of support for City of Hope, The Home Depot Foundation has awarded the cancer research and treatment institution a three-year, $675,000 grant. The funds will enable the completion of three construction projects on City of Hope’s campus: Silver LEED certification and installation of a sustainable solar energy system for the new Michael Amini Transfusion Medicine Center; renovations to Hope Village, the temporary housing facility for patients and their caregivers; and construction of a playground outside the Village for the patients’ younger family members.
The grant highlights the continued support The Home Depot Foundation has given to construction projects at City of Hope, a leading research and treatment institution for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. A five-year, $1.65 million grant awarded in 2003 was used to renovate Hope Village, a 40-unit, studio-style complex, which serves as housing for patients and their families during treatment or recovery. City of Hope is one of the few medical centers to offer patients and their caregivers temporary housing. This private, home-like setting can decrease the amount of time a patient must spend in a hospital environment.
“The generosity of The Home Depot Foundation has been instrumental in creating homes away from home,” said Al Olsen, senior director of development, City of Hope.“ Their critical support has helped build extended care residences for patient families to rest, heal and rejuvenate themselves. This temporary housing helps families out economically when they need it most, easing their emotional strain.”
“Beginning with The Home Depot founders, our company and industry has a longstanding tradition of support for the work of City of Hope’s physicians and scientists,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “The Home Depot Foundation is proud to continue this tradition by supporting the facility advancements at City of Hope. We want to be sure the patients and their families have a healthy and comfortable place to live and play while receiving treatment.”
In 1982, a small group of philanthropic leaders formed the Hardware/Homebuilding Industry (HHI) with City of Hope. The group has grown to encompass a nationwide cross-section of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers' representatives and related members. Today, the HHI remains one of City of Hope's strongest teams in its national network of dedicated volunteers. Since its inception, the HHI has raised $140 million for research and treatment at City of Hope.
Each year, the HHI presents City of Hope’s top philanthropic honor, The Spirit of Life® Award, to members of the industry who have made a notable contribution to both their community and profession.
Company founders Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank and Pat Farrah have each received The Spirit of Life Award, and Marcus’s efforts have been further honored with a statue on City of Hope’s campus in Duarte, Calif., which he and his wife dedicated in 2001. The statue in Bolsky Plaza is surrounded by a “Wall of Honor” recognizing the special contributions from various individuals and companies in the HHI.
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. Through the incorporation of responsible design, homes built with durable and quality materials are more energy and water efficient, have good indoor air quality, and are overall a safe and healthy space to live. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted $70 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 50,000 affordable, healthy homes. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.
