Corporate America Supporting
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
Supporting and recognizing our nation's military and the value Veterans and their spouses offer to
corporate America is at the core of the Home Depot Foundation, PenFed Credit Union, UPS and
Hilton. Whether it’s through development programs, training, hiring, or providing a support system,
efforts to provide opportunities for Veterans is available across many levels, and hiring them is key to
business success.
“Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot Foundation, as more
than 35,000 of the company’s associates have served in the military,” states
Shannon Gerber, Executive Director for The Home Depot Foundation. “The
Home Depot Foundation is committed to improving the homes and lives of U.S.
veterans – and supports housing needs for our nation’s veterans of all eras,
homeless and combat-wounded veterans.”
The Home Depot Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit is also committed to
filling the skilled labor gap. In 2018, the foundation launched a national trades
training program, which supports separating military members as they
transition to the civilian workforce. Built for Trades, their program with Home
Builders Institute, began in eight locations – mostly military bases – and has
since expanded to high schools in underserved communities. In its second
year, the program will have enrolled more than 700 veterans and students by
the end of 2019.
Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $315
million in veteran causes and improved more than 45,000 veteran homes
and facilities in 4,300 cities – all part of their commitment to give half of a
billion dollars to veteran causes by 2025.
Every year, in the months leading up to Veterans Day, The Home Depot
Foundation launches a campaign for associates to get involved in their
communities and serve veterans. This year, between September 19 and
November 11, Team Depot, the associate volunteer force, served more than
115,000 hours of volunteerism, across more than 700 projects in more than
550 cities.
“Through our strategic partnerships with more than 20 national and
4,000 local nonprofit organizations, we’re able to provide critical home
repairs for veteran homeowners, housing for veterans transitioning out of
homelessness and accessible smart homes for our nation’s more severely
injured veterans,” states Gerber.
those Who Serve
National partners in serving veterans include Stephen Siller Tunnel
to Towers Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Volunteers of America,
Community Solutions, U.S.VETS, Operation Homefront, Semper Fi Fund,
Habitat for Humanity, to name a few.
The Home Depot Foundation also partners with organizations such as
Operation Blessing, Team Rubicon, Convoy of Hope, American Red Cross and
All Hands and Hearts to prepare and mobilize disaster kits ahead of storms,
as well as boots on the ground and hands-on support for short-term relief
and long-term rebuilding.
For more information visit:
https://corporate.homedepot.com/foundation
“PenFed has been serving the Military Community since 1935,” states
Charlie Miles (USMC, Ret.), Director, Military Employment Programs, PenFed.
“It’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. We appreciate and value the service and
sacrifices made by those serving our country in the military and we are
committed to serving not just their financial needs but in assisting in any way
we can. It’s a moral imperative for PenFed to support and give back to the
Military Community.”
From a military employment perspective, Miles believes that having
employees from the Military community helps them better understand
members’ needs, thus allowing them to better serve. He also believes the
most important element of any company’s success is its people.
“If you want business success you have to hire great employees and
there is no better single pool of talent in the U.S. than the military,” Miles states.
“The military has done all the work for us; they have screened, trained, and
developed the world’s best labor force for America’s corporations.”
Miles emphasizes qualities and traits of America’s warfighters. They have
“mission focus, great work ethic, character and integrity, passion and drive,
leading-edge training and skills, experience and responsibility beyond that
found in most civilian jobs, and leadership.”
8 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 25, No. 6, 2019
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