THE HOME DEPOT FORMS UNPRECEDENTED HIRING PARTNERSHIP
WITH FOUR LEADING NATIONAL HISPANIC ORGANIZATIONS

ATLANTA, FEBRUARY 15, 2005 – The Home Depot^®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced that the company has formed a hiring partnership with four of the country’s leading national Hispanic organizations, The ASPIRA Association, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and SER – Jobs for Progress National. The Home Depot will work with these organizations and their strong network of local offices and contacts to help recruit candidates for full-time and part-time positions across the country.
The Hispanic community will constitute an estimated 25 percent of the national workforce by 2050. This community is the fastest-growing consumer segment in the nation and represents 14 percent of the U.S. population. It is estimated that by 2008, Hispanics will have an approximate annual purchasing power of $1 trillion or 9.6 percent of the U.S. GDP.

Interested candidates can complete an online application at any one of The Home Depot’s store employment kiosks or visit www.careers.homedepot.com/united. In addition, candidates can go to one of the participating partner organization offices, community technology centers or Web sites to complete an application.

“We believe that our greatest competitive advantage is our associates and the diversity of thought and cultural background they bring to the workplace,” said Bob Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO of The Home Depot. “This partnership will help further The Home Depot’s ongoing commitment to create a high-performing, diverse workforce that meets the growing needs of its customers and the communities it serves.”

This marks the first time ASPIRA, HACU, NCLR and SER will work with a corporate partner on a single hiring initiative. The groundbreaking program was made possible through the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), one of the most influential advocacy organizations in the nation, representing 13 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico.

“Hispanics strive for the American Dream, which includes obtaining an education, meaningful employment and good benefits to care for our families. The Home Depot has taken a big step in helping make those dreams a reality,” said Alma Morales Riojas, president and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization and chair of the board of directors for HACR. “Latino families are very committed to maintaining our homes in good condition, and The Home Depot offers quality products and services at affordable costs, which is good for us. Now, increased visibility of career opportunities at The Home Depot for our members and the communities they serve creates a winning effort all around.”

The hiring initiative will feature the theme “Unidos podemos/United we can” as a means to showcase the unity of the effort and the positive impact this partnership can have on communities. ASPIRA, HACU, NCLR and SER each will utilize select contacts and offices within their respective networks to educate communities on the career opportunities that exist at The Home Depot. These organizations will also promote the partnership and detail the opportunities on their respective Web sites.

“We are very excited about the launch of this initiative,” said Ronald Blackburn-Moreno, president and CEO of The ASPIRA Association. “I am proud The Home Depot sees the value of building a relationship with ASPIRA, and we are confident this alliance will benefit our entire organization and support our efforts in our communities.” ASPIRA will provide career information at 23 of its Community Technology Centers across Florida, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Puerto Rico.
“HACU has access to some of the best up and coming talent in the country,” said Antonio Flores, president and CEO of HACU. “We view this initiative as a tremendous way to grow our relationship with The Home Depot.” HACU will work with The Home Depot to enhance the visibility of the company’s leadership programs to its members.

“We welcome this partnership with The Home Depot, which will allow NCLR affiliates to provide career information to Latinos who are seeking a good job with a real chance for advancement,” said Janet Murguia, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza. Forty of National Council of La Raza’s affiliates in Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix will participate in the initial phase of this program. These affiliates will provide information regarding career opportunities at The Home Depot and utilize their affiliate Web sites to promote the effort.

“A relationship with The Home Depot is a natural fit for our organization,” said Ignacio Salazar, president and CEO of SER – Jobs for Progress National. “We have a tremendous opportunity to work nationally and locally on substantial programming that will have a positive impact on our communities. This will be a tremendous alliance for everyone involved.” SER will have 75 offices across 18 states participate in this hiring effort. Offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin will provide career information to individuals seeking employment and partner with local stores in their recruiting efforts.

The Home Depot offers medical and dental insurance, tuition reimbursement, the opportunity to share in the company’s growth through its Success Sharing program – a bonus plan for associates based upon sales, a discounted stock purchase plan, and other benefits to eligible full-time and part-time associates.
The Home Depot launched its first national hiring partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor in June 2002. In February 2004, The Home Depot announced a hiring partnership with the AARP that later was expanded to include innovative, educational, merchandising and marketing initiatives designed for AARP members and all customers of The Home Depot. In September 2004, the company launched Operation Career Front, a joint venture with the U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs designed to support America’s military job seekers.

The Home Depot
Founded in 1978, The Home Depot? is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2003 sales of $64.8 billion. The company employs approximately 325,000 associates and has 1,890 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, nine Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company recently announced the creation of a business development operation for retail expansion into China. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

The ASPIRA Association
The ASPIRA Association is the only national nonprofit organization devoted solely to the education and leadership development of Puerto Rican and other Latino youth. Since 1961 ASPIRA has pursued its mission of empowering the Latino community through the development of its youth. All of ASPIRA’s goals and activities spring from one basic belief: Puerto Ricans and Latinos have the collective potential to move their community forward. ASPIRA looks at Latino youth and sees this potential, leaders waiting to emerge. With community-based offices in large cities of six states and Puerto Rico, ASPIRA’s 1,100 staff members work with over 50,000 youth and their families each year to develop that potential through an array of in-school, after school and community education programs. These are our Aspirantes---those youth who will become educated, committed leaders for the community’s future benefit. Since its founding, ASPIRA has provided a quarter of a million youth with the personal resources and educational tools they need to remain in school and contribute to their community. Most mainland Puerto Rican leaders today were encouraged by ASPIRA during their adolescence.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
From a modest start with 18 institutions in 1987, HACU has grown to over 400 member institutions located in 33 states, Puerto Rico and eight countries. As the only national association representing Hispanic serving institutions, HACU’s work is to promote nonprofit, accredited colleges and universities where Hispanics constitute 25 percent of the enrollment at the undergraduate or graduate level or both. HACU also administers a national internship program for Hispanic students interested in federal government and corporate careers.

National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza - the largest national constituency-based Hispanic organization and the leading voice in Washington, DC for the Hispanic community - is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization established to reduce poverty and discrimination and improve life opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its community-based efforts, NCLR reaches more than four million Hispanics through a formal network of “affiliates” – more than 300 Hispanic community-based organizations that serve 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia – and a broader network of more than 35,000 groups and individuals nationwide.

SER – Jobs for Progress National
SER addresses the education, employment, and economic needs of Hispanics and other underrepresented groups across America. Nationally, SER serves as the administrative arm of the SER Network of Affiliate Partners, and provides assistance to enhance the workforce development capacity of its affiliates through training and technical assistance, program development, research and policy, and fund development. Locally, SER operates community development programs, targeting Hispanics and other underrepresented groups, and also serves the business community. The SER Network consists of 42 affiliates operating more than 200 offices in 19 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The SER network serves more than one million individuals annually. SER has a strong partnership with Corporate America through the Amigos de SER Business Advisory Council, which provides technical assistance, financial and in kind support to SER, and employment opportunities for consumers.

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility
Founded in 1986 as an association of some the most prominent national Hispanic organizations, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C. HACR strives to ensure that there is an equitable participation of the Hispanic community in corporate America commensurate with Hispanic purchasing power. Responsible corporations endeavor to include Hispanics in employment, procurement, philanthropy, and corporate governance.

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