Honoring Sanford, N.C., Store Heroes after Tornado, Lowe's to Donate $250,000 to American Red Cross Relief Efforts
Customers encouraged to help support disaster outreach through
in-store and online donations
MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
In honor of the heroic efforts of Lowe's store employees during the
April 16 tornado in Sanford, N.C., Lowe's announced today it will donate
$250,000 to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. Lowe's
stores nationwide will also accept customer's cash donations to the
American Red Cross from April 20 to May 22.
Lowes.com
also will serve as a donation point for customers who wish to contribute
to the American Red Cross, making it convenient for people who want to
join Lowe's in making a difference in communities affected by disaster.
"Thanks to the generosity of Lowe's, the Red Cross is able to mobilize
supplies, staff and volunteers to provide help to people and communities
in need," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red
Cross. "These contributions, along with the support of the American
public, are critical during tornadoes and similar disasters because they
enable the Red Cross to rush immediate relief to disaster victims."
The donations will support the American Red Cross National Disaster
Relief Fund to provide support to the thousands affected by the natural
disasters nationwide, including the tornadoes in North Carolina, Alabama
and Mississippi; the wildfires in Texas; and the flooding in North
Dakota.
"Lowe's applauds the efforts of our employees in Sanford, N.C., to
protect our customers and Lowe's family during the devastating tornado,"
said Larry D. Stone, Lowe's president and chief operating officer and
chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Lowe's is
dedicated to assisting families affected by the natural disasters in our
communities, and the Lowe's customer donation program will help the
American Red Cross provide shelter, food and counseling for people in
the affected neighborhoods across the country."
In Sanford, no employees or customers lost their lives during the severe
weather thanks to the quick response from Lowe's employees inside the
store. All Sanford Lowe's employees have been offered the opportunity to
work in surrounding stores - no jobs will be lost as a result of this
disaster. In addition to these efforts and Lowe's support of the
American Red Cross, Lowe's
Employee Relief Fund will continue to assist the company's own
employees faced with rebuilding nationwide.
The Lowe's Employee Relief Fund, which was created in 1999, has
contributed $12 million in assistance to more than 11,000 employees and
their families. Lowe's matches each contribution dollar for dollar to
make employee donations even more powerful.
Since partnering with the Red Cross in 1999, Lowe's and its customers
have contributed more than $20 million for disaster relief.
Donations to the Red Cross can be made in Lowe's stores nationwide, on Lowes.com
or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
About Lowe's
With fiscal year 2010 sales of $48.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is
a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 15 million
customers a week at more than 1,750 home improvement stores in the
United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in
Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement
retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
Source: Lowe's
