Foundation awards $1
million to SkillsUSA and rolls out the blue carpet for
students at select Lowe's stores nationwide on May 7, inspiring Gen Z to join skilled trades
movement
MOORESVILLE, N.C., April 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To honor the future generation
of Pros who are choosing careers in skilled trades, the Lowe's
Foundation has awarded a $1 million
Gable Grant to SkillsUSA. The foundation will join SkillsUSA
to celebrate thousands of students nationwide on National Signing
Day as they commit to skilled trades jobs, apprenticeships or
further education in their trade. Select Lowe's stores will host
blue carpet events for students, their families and future
employers.
In addition to SkillsUSA National Signing Day, the Lowe's
Foundation will support SkillsUSA's Work-Based Learning initiative
that connects student members to educators, businesses and industry
partners. The initiative will prepare more job-ready skilled trades
professionals and allow students to obtain industry-recognized
certifications, badges, micro-credentials and more.
"Through partnerships with SkillsUSA and the growing generation
of future trades professionals, we are helping the world see that
trades careers are not just to be respected but revered," said
Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources
and chair of the Lowe's Foundation. "These workers are making smart
and sensible career choices that will benefit our country's homes,
neighborhoods and communities for decades to come."
SkillsUSA National Signing Day on May
7 will celebrate future skilled tradespeople as they sign
their letter of intent to further their education or pursue skilled
trades career pathways. Since launching in 2019, over 500,000
students from 4,700 SkillsUSA schools across the country have
graduated.
Lowe's will host a blue carpet runway to honor local SkillsUSA
students as "Trades Stars" at stores in Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San
Diego. As part of the national campaign, SkillsUSA and the
Lowe's Foundation are encouraging students, teachers and parents to
engage on social media using the #TradesStars hashtag, promoting
students as they begin their next chapter.
"SkillsUSA is empowering students to become skilled
professionals who can help meet the country's skilled labor demands
– including those in the construction field – for years to come,"
said Chelle Travis, executive
director of SkillsUSA. "With the Lowe's Foundation's support and
partnership, we're confident that Trades Stars will elevate the
stories of our Signing Day students and inspire other individuals
as they embark on their own skilled trades journeys."
Since 2023, the Lowe's Foundation has awarded over
$18 million in Gable Grants to
25 organizations offering innovative and scalable skilled trades
training across the U.S. Through these grants, program participants
are strengthening their skills across carpentry and construction,
HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair. The next
grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits will run
from August 1-31. To learn more,
visit Lowes.com/Foundation.
About the Lowe's Foundation
The Lowe's Foundation, an
independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe's Companies,
Inc. (NYSE: LOW), is helping develop a community of skilled
tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes, neighborhoods and
infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2027, the Lowe's
Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare
50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to
community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit
organizations and national nonprofit partners with a strong local
presence. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation,
visit Lowes.com/Foundation and follow on Instagram,
X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce
development organization for students, empowering them to become
skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible
community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 400,000 career
and technical education students and teachers in middle schools,
high schools and college / postsecondary institutions nationwide.
Those members represent more than 130 in-demand occupational areas,
from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap,
SkillsUSA has served nearly 15 million members since its founding
in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on X,
Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Sebastian
Hale
Lowe's Foundation
sebastian.hale@lowes.com
Tom Kercheval
SkillsUSA
tkercheval@skillsusa.org
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SOURCE Lowe’s Foundation