When Dianne joined The Home Depot in 1983, she never imagined her career would span more than four decades. Over 41 years, she built lasting relationships, helped countless customers, and found a second family in her fellow associates.
But one of the most defining moments of her journey came in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana. For the first time in her life, Dianne and her family evacuated their home, taking only a few essentials with the expectation they’d return in just a couple of days. Instead, they found themselves displaced for weeks.
“The Homer Fund was there for me when I needed it most,” Dianne recalls. The associate-funded nonprofit provided financial assistance that helped cover food, gas, hotel stays, and other necessities while her family was away from home. “Every bit helped—because you’re spending extra money just to get by. It made a huge difference.”
Even after returning to work, Dianne says the support of her Home Depot family and The Homer Fund gave her the strength to move forward. “It’s like a big family. We all support each other. And The Homer Fund is there whenever somebody is in dire need.”
Now retired, Dianne looks back proudly on her years with The Home Depot and her experience as a recipient of a Homer Fund grant. “I am so Orange at Heart,” she says. “And I will always be Orange at Heart.”
About The Homer Fund
The Homer Fund is a nonprofit charity created by associates, for associates. Since 1999, it has provided more than $290 million in grants to help associates through unexpected hardships—offering critical support when it matters most.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is committed to supporting communities with natural disaster preparedness, short-term response and long-term recovery. During Hurricane Katrina, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation donated $4.75 million to support relief efforts and launched the “Rebuilding Hope and Homes” campaign, which funded health and human services and affordable housing for disaster victims.
Click here to learn more about how The Home Depot responds to natural disasters.