The Home Depot, Jeremiah Development Group and the City of Rockford to Honor Veteran and His Family with Their Dream Home

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Rockford, IL, July, 2014 – Disabled military veteran, Anthony Birdwell, and his wife, are soon to be first time homeowners thanks to the support of The Home Depot, Jeremiah Development Group and the City of Rockford. These organizations are working together to provide safe housing for homeless veterans. The renovated duplex is just one of 1,000 homes that will be repaired and renovated for U.S. military veterans as a part of The Home Depot’s Celebration of Service initiative this fall.

Birdwell is a disabled military veteran, who, along with his family, has faced many challenges in the past several years. About five years ago, Birdwell received the unanticipated news of a tumor attached to his spine. He was no longer able to serve in the Army, and the struggle to find employment to support his pregnant wife and young son with his new disability was daunting. With medical expenses growing and no unemployment benefits, their personal and financial struggles amplified.

The three organizations are working in conjunction to grant and reconstruct a Rockford house for Birdwell and his deserving family. The Home Depot Foundation is providing the funding needed to renovate the home and more than 50 The Home Depot associates and vendor partners will volunteer their time and talents through Team Depot, the company’s associate-led volunteer force, to transform the home for the Birdwell family.

“We’ve got a great deserving family, a great city, a great organization with Jeremiah Development Group just pulling together to make this all possible. At The Home Depot, we’re committed to giving back and we are so honored to be able to do so for such a deserving family,” said Chad Forrester, Team Depot Captain and Store Manager of The Home Depot of Rockford.

The Birdwell family will possess ownership of both duplex housing units. One housing unit will be for the Birdwell family, who will be able to influence the design process alongside The Home Depot team. Meanwhile, the other housing unit will act as supplemental income as a rental duplex.

According to Kathleen Ferrero, Executive Director of Jeremiah Development Group, “This is the family for this house.”

The grand reveal of the house to the Birdwell family will occur on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. As a house built in 1914, the Birdwell family is receiving a structure which represents the roots of Rockford and a branch to their family’s future. The Jeremiah Development Group, The Home Depot, City of Rockford, as well as many other local volunteers are providing a timeless gift to this meritorious couple. Not only is this gift representative of how groups can come together to remarkably impact the life of a veteran, but it also represents the personal growth of the Rockford community.

“Projects such as these are the agents that call for action to improve Rockford’s social and economic conditions, leading to a greater future. One deserving family, one community and one act of humanity will lead to a better tomorrow,” stated Joe Arco, President of Comtech Multimedia Marketing, which is documenting the duplex renovation process and family’s journey along the way.

About Giving Back at The Home Depot

Since the first The Home Depot store opened in 1979, giving back has been a core value for the Company and a passion for its associates. Today, The Home Depot, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families and aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Through Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force, thousands of associates dedicate their time and talents to these efforts in the communities where they live and work.

Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $65 million to provide safe housing to veterans, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 10,000 homes for veterans. To learn more and see Team Depot in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.