Month: February 2024

Poets, writers, visual artists, singers, and dancers historically have served as change agents through their crafts and artistic expression. This Black History Month, we acknowledge the countless works that African American/Black artists have contributed to inspire communities, speak truth to power, and inspire globally. 

T. Rowe Price and its philanthropic arm—the T. Rowe Price Foundation—see possibilities and seek to expand opportunities for all by fostering growth, advancing learning, and lifting one another up in our communities. Our efforts come to life through deep relationships that include pro bono and volunteer opportunities and experiences, grant-making, associate giving, community partnerships, and signature programming. 

As our firm celebrates Black History Month in the U.S., MOSAIC @ T. Rowe Price, one of our firm’s global associate-led business resource groups, and its African Heritage Community are hosting an educational event focused on African Americans and the arts. Here, we also would like to highlight a few of the arts organizations that our firm and Foundation have proudly supported, collectively granting more than $400,000 since 2018. 

Afro House

Afro House is a company of professional musicians, dancers, designers, actors, image-makers, and writers who channel their collective skills, knowledge, and craftsmanship to disrupt normative ideas and push the boundaries of their own disciplines to create something revolutionary. The vision of Afro House is led by Artistic Director Scott Patterson, a pianist, composer, and librettist. Patterson has been recognized as a 2020 Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Fellow, a Baker Artist Awardee, and a Mary Sawyers Imboden Awardee. His work with Afro House has been featured in the PBS “Great Performances” series.

Baltimore Center Stage 

Founded in 1963 and designated the State Theater of Maryland in 1978, Baltimore Center Stage ignites conversations and imaginations by producing an eclectic season of professional productions and by presenting engaging education programs for community members, including youth and families. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb and Managing Director Adam Frank, Center Stage leads with its core values—chief among them being access for all—to provide active and open arts and education accessibility for everyone, regardless of barriers.

CityLit Project

CityLit Project nurtures the culture of literature in Baltimore and throughout Maryland by creating enthusiasm for the literary arts, connecting a community of avid readers and writers, and designing opportunities for diverse audiences to embrace the literary arts. CityLit delivers informative and compelling events that are accessible and largely free at unique venues around Baltimore. The nonprofit highlights nationally recognized Black writers, including Kiese Laymon, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Nikky Finney, and Remica Bingham-Risher, in master classes and other events. CityLit Project is also a partner in the One Book Baltimore program, an initiative spearheaded by the T. Rowe Price Foundation and the Enoch Pratt Free Library to encourage reading and community dialogue.

DewMore Baltimore

DewMore fosters civic engagement with historically marginalized peoples through art-focused programming and purposeful partnerships with organizations, schools, and governmental agencies that foster empowerment, capacity for change, and community development. The nonprofit uses poetry as a platform and tool to inspire young people to become leaders, to call out social injustices, and to act as catalysts for the change they want to see in their communities. 

The Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District

The Pennsylvania Avenue corridor in West Baltimore was designated as Maryland’s first Black Arts and Entertainment District to highlight and celebrate the cultural contributions of African Americans and to create a new destination centered on and catered to Black arts, entertainment, and culture. The district empowers Black artists and continues community-based revitalization efforts in West Baltimore through events and activities, training and development, and advocacy and education. 

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

As a Smithsonian affiliate, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture documents, interprets, and preserves the complex experiences, contributions, and culture of Black people. It serves as a catalyst of sustained change by providing robust programs and exhibitions and bold conversations that educate and challenge. Founded in 2005, the 82,000-square-foot facility accommodates over 13,000 square feet of permanent and temporary exhibition space, hosting more than 11,000 objects in its permanent collection, special exhibitions, educational programs, and public events. 

Throughout Black History Month and other celebrations of diversity, we invite you to learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how our differences bring us together at troweprice.com/diversity.

202401-3348793

February 5, 2024 /3BL/ – As part of Lowe’s continued work to make communities better for all, the home improvement company is accepting project nominations for Lowe’s Hometowns. Now in its third year, the five-year, $100 million impact program revitalizes community spaces including food pantries, veteran support programs, first responder facilities, affordable housing services and community gardens.

Watch Lowe’s Hometowns in action. >>

Now through Feb. 19, people across the country are encouraged to go to Lowes.com/Hometowns to nominate a project to be part of Lowe’s Hometowns.

This year, Lowe’s associates will complete nearly 1,800 projects to improve their communities, including 100 signature grant projects selected through nominations and 1,700 selected by Lowe’s associates. Each project is supported by knowledgeable Lowe’s red vest associates, who contribute tens of thousands of volunteer hours and leverage Lowe’s vast product assortment, services and network of Pros to bring the renovations to life.

“We have a responsibility to the communities we serve to be part of the solution to their most critical issues. Giving back is core to who we are and made possible by our associates’ ability to get things done,” said Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO. “Lowe’s Hometowns projects are helping to improve millions of lives across the country, and I’m excited to see the meaningful impact this program will make in 2024.”

In 2023, Lowe’s partnered with music icon and Tuskegee, Alabama native Lionel Richie to turn an undeveloped plot of land into a vibrant community space across from historic Tuskegee University. “Hello Park” is expected to open this spring.

“This place is so special to me. I grew up in the Tuskegee community. I spent my early years inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, just to name a few,” Richie said. “And now, I want to build something where others can come to reflect on their lives. “Hello Park” will be a destination for light, inspiration and, more importantly, love for everyone who visits.”

Lowe’s associates also helped turn an unused space into a community gathering hub for veterans transitioning out of homelessness at Americans for Independent Living in Waterloo, Iowa; renovated the Wedington volunteer fire station in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and built and landscaped a playground and play space specially crafted for deaf and hard of hearing children with Aid the Silent in San Antonio.

“Deaf children with cochlear implants cannot play on plastic playgrounds because the static electricity wipes out the programming of their implant,” said Emma Faye Rudkin, founder and executive director of Aid the Silent. “Our families are beyond ecstatic about having a safe place for their deaf, hard of hearing and hearing children to play, do homework and hang out.”

Since 2022, with the help of program implementation partner Points of Light, the Lowe’s Hometowns signature grant program has renovated 149 community centers, affordable housing facilities, shelters and food pantries; refurbished 15 first responder, veteran and military family facilities; and built and improved 54 community gardens, parks and playgrounds – among many other impactful projects. More than 2.5 million people are anticipated to benefit from the first two years of Lowe’s Hometowns projects within one year of project completion1.

“We’re proud to work alongside Lowe’s and be their trusted program partner to create an incredible investment that positively impacts communities. Time and time again, we’ve seen Lowe’s Hometowns projects inspire community members to come together to address needs in their own neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, Points of Light president and CEO. “This program creates a powerful and needed platform to build connections that serve to strengthen and benefit communities for years to come.”

Visit Lowes.com/hometowns for complete program terms and to learn more.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the U.S., where Lowe’s operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

1 Full program impact data available in the Lowe’s Hometowns Executive Summary linked here.

Contact: Laurel Waller 
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. 
laurel.waller@lowes.com

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