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.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Ron DeFeo |
Craig Hodges |