It has been announced here today in a presentation in Atlanta that the Home Depot® will present a $1 million donation to the United Service Organizations® (USO®). It has been known, that the donation will be used for the construction of new USO centers and the ongoing maintenance and capital upkeep of existing facilities.

The Home Depot® is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer having 2,164 retail stores in all 50 states like in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. The Home Depot, through its HD SupplySM businesses, is also one of the largest diversified wholesale distributors in the United States scattered over 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada. The prime business of the company includes offering products and services for building, improving and maintaining homes, businesses and municipal infrastructures.

In regard to this, the Press has been informed that proceeds were raised from redeemed gift card sales in The Home Depot stores in the month of January, as part of a holiday gift card promotion. Moreover, in December 2006, making it a part of its ongoing support of the USO and military families, the Home Depot announced a holiday gift card campaign for the benefit of USO centers throughout the United States. This was the ideal that led the Company to pledge 5 percent of all the Home Depot redeemed gift card sales, up to $1 million, for January 1-28, 2007.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Edward A. Powell, the President and CEO of USO said, "We thank The Home Depot and its customers for their steadfast support of the USO. This donation will help the USO continue to offer its programs to service members and their families." USO is an organization in the trade of providing morale-boosting programs and services, with its operational centers in 133 countries in the world. 

It is estimated, that of this donation, $400,000 would be provided towards the expansion and renovation of USO Delaware, Inc. at Dover Air Force Base; $135,000 for the construction of the Rocky Mountain USO center at Fort Carson, Colo. The remaining $465,000 would be for supporting the construction, ongoing maintenance and capital upkeep of USO centers throughout the United States.

While being requested to comment, Mr. Kevin Martinez, the Vice President of Community Affairs of The Home Depot said, "The Home Depot is dedicated to supporting our men and women in uniform, and their families. Today's donation is on behalf of our customers, who showed their support to the USO by participating in the January gift card program."