The National League of Cities Corporate Partners Program promotes the exchange of ideas between corporate leaders and the leaders of America's cities in order to strengthen local government, encourage economic competitiveness, and promote corporate civic engagement.

The Home Depot Foundation 2455 Paces Ferry Road Building C-17 Atlanta, GA 30339 Web: www.homedepotfoundation.org/

The Foundation is dedicated to creating healthy, livable communities by providing access to affordable, healthy homes for working families, and planting and preserving community trees in urban areas.  Over the next 10 years, the Foundation has pledged $100 million to build 100,000 affordable, healthy homes and the planting and preservation of more than 3 million trees.

The Home Depot Foundation views houses as providing more than just shelter and thinks about trees as providing more than just shade.  We believe in creating environments – both inside the home and outside in the community – that contribute to the financial stability, personal success, physical health and overall well-being of our neighbors.

The Foundation made this long-term commitment because many local communities are facing enormous housing, health and environmental challenges.  The lack of affordable healthy homes for working families is emerging as a national crisis as the incomes of working families have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of housing.  By supporting the construction of environmentally responsible homes that bring benefits including reduced utility bills, better indoor air quality, lower maintenance expenses of durable materials and easy access to transportation, employment and recreational spaces, The Home Depot Foundation is working to provide housing options that are more affordable and healthier for the long-term.

The Foundation also works to help communities address the many economic, social and environmental issues facing urban areas through the strategic use of trees.  Trees reduce energy use by cooling urban areas and providing shelter in the winter.  In fact, trees properly placed in a yard can reduce a home’s energy usage by 30 percent.  Trees also provide natural infrastructure that controls stormwater runoff and erosion, reducing the need for cities to undertake expensive public work projects.  Moreover, areas with adequate tree cover experience less crime, and residential property values increase by up to 20 percent. 

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted nearly $30 million to support the building and preserving of more than 40,000 affordable homes and helped to plant and preserve more than one million community trees.

Contact Information:

Resources for Cities:

• Stronger, Healthier Cities Through Trees – A Resource Guide: http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/resources.html
  
• Case Studies: Affordable Housing, Built Responsibly
  Community Trees (both can be found at http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/resources.html
  
• Trees Make Dollars and Sense: http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/resources.html
  
•  Building Green Makes Dollars and Sense: http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/resources.html