Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s Recognize the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and Continue Community Revitalization Efforts

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2015 – As the nation remembers the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Lowe’s awarded Rebuilding Together a $150,000 grant and will partner with them on a two-day community revitalization effort August 10-11, 2015 in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. This effort will celebrate perseverance and continue the recovery of this diverse community that suffered some of the worst flooding during the storm.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Lowe’s contributed $650,000 and support from Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers to help restore 10 of the 20 fire houses within the New Orleans Fire Department.

Over the past ten years, Lowe’s and Rebuilding Together – a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing that provides low-income homeowners with critical home repairs and revitalizes the communities in which they live – have completed several critical home repair projects together to assist those displaced and impacted by the storm. “When disasters like Hurricane Katrina strike, the effect can be felt for years,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “So many of our own Lowe’s employees and stores were personally impacted by the storm and know firsthand how important relief support is to bringing a neighborhood back to life. We are proud to work alongside Rebuilding Together once again to make a difference in the Gentilly community.”

More than 170 Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers will roll up their sleeves and perform critical home repairs for three longtime Gentilly homeowners impacted by the storm along with upgrades and improvements to Gentilly’s Fire Station 27, one of the first four stations to reopen and provide recovery efforts despite their own flood damage. Volunteers will also assemble and distribute hurricane preparedness kits for local low-income homeowners.

“Ten years after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, there is still work to be done. Together, with the support of Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Heroes, we are transforming communities in New Orleans and moving closer to our vision of a safe and healthy home for every person,” said Sandra Henriquez, interim president and CEO of Rebuilding Together.