On a fall Friday night nearly 40 years ago, you might find Marvin Ellison sporting his purple high school football jersey while walking Main Street in his hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee.
It was on that street where he’d go shopping at the economy store with his mom. The same street his dad held an office where he sold insurance.
“I have so many vivid memories,” Ellison said.
Earlier this November, Ellison was back in Brownsville for another memorable moment. The Lowe’s Chairman and CEO visited the site of the new city hall, which is being transformed into a vibrant community hub as part of Lowe’s 100 Hometowns initiative. His father was at his side as they toured the building.
“It’s part of our core belief that we will make the communities where we live and operate better places,” Ellison said.
And it’s extra special for Ellison to make an impact where he grew up.
“I was just an average kid – a middle child of seven – trying to figure out what’s next,” Ellison said, thinking back to his younger years. “So, to be in this position being back here and uplifting the community… it’s more than I can put words to.”
Drive a few minutes beyond city hall in Brownsville’s quaint downtown and you’ll wind up on dirt roads that take you past beautiful cotton fields stretching to the horizon. Located an hour outside Memphis, Brownsville is home to roughly 10,000, and it’s a place where everybody seems to know everybody. The Mayor, Williams Rawls, attended Haywood High School with Ellison and remains a family friend.
“You wonder where Marvin gets this service-orientated attitude? His parents. He saw how they worked and treated people,” Rawls said. “I think Marvin’s success is directly related to his hometown values.
“This project was brought back to life because of Lowe’s. We had shelved it. But we’re ready to grow. This is going to further the development of our city.”
Small, tight-knit communities like Brownsville exist all over America, and so many of these places are looking for ways to revitalize. They just need a little help.
As a way of celebrating the company’s 100th birthday, Lowe’s launched 100 Hometowns: a $10 million initiative committed to providing that helping hand for 100 communities.
Projects directly benefitted nearly 1 million people, spanning 36 states, including community centers and spaces, shelters, housing facilities, playgrounds, cultural preservation sites, gardens, food pantries and skilled trades projects. Thousands of Lowe’s associates joined with non-profits and community leaders to rebuild areas reeling from natural disasters, repair critical housing, restore beloved community centers, revive green spaces and more.
The stories of impact warm the heart and brighten the future.
This is a company that's willing to go that extra mile.
In California, Lowe’s partnered with Steelers star running back Najee Harris to upgrade a shelter that served him and his family when he was young. In Seattle, a non-profit was able to construct tiny homes that will get 2,000 homeless people off the streets, while also attracting matching grants from the local government and local corporations. In Kentucky, Lowe’s helped improve a facility that provides free service to all active military, veterans and their families.
Local Lowe’s associates were involved in every project, taking time to pitch in with renovations. There are only a few projects left to complete, and those are in the final stages.
“This is a company that’s willing to go that extra mile,” said Beth Kirksey, a department supervisor at the Jackson, Tennessee store. “When we can get together and do things like this for other folks, it just makes our jobs more worthwhile.”
It’s what working at Lowe’s is all about.
“This 100 Hometowns project has been an incredible example of how our associates have embraced being part of uplifting their communities,” Ellison said. “I’m so proud.”