Lowe's pledges $4 million for education initiatives

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe's announced that for the 2011 to 2012 school year it will donate more than $4 million to support education.

Through its Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, the company is providing funds for school systems across America through Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants; Teach for America; Project L.I.F.T; Hispanic Scholarship Fund; Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Lowe’s Scholarships and Carl Buchan Scholarships.

This fall LCEF has awarded more than $1.35 million in grants to 18 schools for school improvement projects including rebuilding and renovation projects, critical repairs and installation of SMART Board technology, among other projects. Additional LCEF grants will be awarded in subsequent grant cycles throughout the rest of the school year.

“Lowe’s is proud to contribute more than $4 million to support education across the country and we’re ready to see these dollars at work to improve schools for our future generations,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe’s charitable and educational foundation. “These dollars will help close the funding gap facing many schools today and expedite much-needed improvements and upgrades at schools throughout America so that our children have a comfortable, well-equipped environment for learning.”

To support disaster relief efforts in communities hit by severe weather and natural disasters this spring, more than $225,000 of the $1.35 million was granted to schools in Gloucester, Mass., Hackleburg, Phil Campbell and Tuscaloosa, Ala., Lee County, N.C. and Ringgold, Ga. These grants are part of a larger $1 million commitment made by LCEF to rebuild schools affected by natural disasters.

LCEF awarded $750,000 to Teach for America to be distributed in Charlotte, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, New Mexico, Rio Grande Valley and Louisiana. Teach For America is an organization that works to ensure children growing up in poverty are provided an excellent education.

Lowe’s is partnering with Project L.I.F.T (Leadership and Investment for Transformation) to provide $500,000 in grants over five years to help Charlotte’s public school system. Project L.I.F.T. is a geographically targeted initiative whose goal is to increase the graduation rate and close the achievement gap for students in the West Charlotte High School corridor. Project funding will target four key areas of intervention – talent, time, technology and community support. In addition to Lowe’s funding, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation will contribute by making a $250,000 grant over five years to support Project L.I.F.T.

LCEF has also donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund, $250,000 to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and $100,000 to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. All funds will support emergency student aid scholarships.