I am so happy to announce that our school also received one of the $5,000 grants for landscaping our school!
I just found out this past Friday and everyone is just so excited. Our school is a very small pre-K thru 12th Independent and we would never be able to accomplish on our own as much as we will with this grant! Thanks Lowe's and PTO Today! We can't wait to get started!
The local managers are not connected to the giving side of the Toolbox for Education program. (They are really nicely involved after the Toolbox grants are awarded, but different story...). Their decisions at the store level are their own, and I'm not surprised that proximity to their store is a factor (I'm sure they get a lot of requests and have to narrow somehow).
I'm glad to hear that it wasn't Toolbox for education contacts saying that "close to Lowe's" is required, because -- for the TBFE program -- that's not true.
The Toolbox for Education program is a very generous program run nationally (PTO Today plays a role behind the scenes in getting the word out and managing the application process and awards, etc.). There are literally dozens of criteria for awards (from project description to need-level of school/group to how far the project already has moved to many more). Distance to a Lowe's store is one of many criteria. And a long distance away is definitely not a can't-win factor. Several of the 2005-06 grants went to schools widely distant from a Lowe's.
Definitely up to you if you want to apply, and I know it can be disappointing/frustrating not to get a grant after doing the application work. On the other hand, more than 800 groups are benefitting directly from roughly $3 million dollars in direct-to-school giving from the Lowe's Charitable & Educational Foundation this year alone. We couldn't be more proud of our small role, and we couldn't be more thankful to Lowe's for this kind of commitment.
i need to clarify some of my details. After speaking with my cohort lastnight, I got some more info. We received the paperwork to apply for the grant, but the deadline date was days away, not enough time to get all the info they had requested, so cohort tells me it was not turned in. She then went to Lowes asking for assistance. Store is 65 miles away in Jonesboro AR., by the store manager we were told only local assistance. It clearly asks that question on the grant paperwork though, what is your distance to Lowes. we will reapply, but I am not holding my breath. These papers were requested through the toolboxforeducation.
Tim- when we applied LOWES told us that they ONLY supported the school's in their immediate county. I am telling you what they said. There is no reason for us to reapply in the fall. It would be a waste of our time.
In reference to your question to Missa - we were told that by the management in the store. Actually the store manager. I forgot his name. Lebanon, TN
