Lowe's Raises $7.5M for the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Lowe’s stores across the nation helped fight back against muscle disease by teaming with customers to raise $7.5 million during the annual Shamrocks program to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“Each year, our employees and customers open their hearts to make a big difference through the simple act of selling or purchasing MDA Shamrocks,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to everyone who participated and honored to do our part to support MDA’s work.”

From Feb. 7 through April 14, Lowe’s customers helped spread some extra luck to MDA families by purchasing and signing $1 green and $5 gold Shamrocks mobiles, or by making a generous $20 donation for a platinum mobile.

“Each Shamrock sold in Lowe’s stores will directly benefit MDA’s mission to save and improve lives for people fighting muscle disease by providing vital funds needed to help find treatments and cures,” said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks. “We cannot thank Lowe’s and its generous employees and customers enough for their continuous dedication to improving their local communities and helping the families we serve.”

Funds raised from Shamrocks sales at Lowe’s stores and regional distribution centers will help send thousands of local children affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases to a weeklong, barrier-free MDA summer camp at nearly 80 locations throughout the United States.

Lowe’s has raised more than $45 million since teaming up with MDA in 2001.

MDA’s Shamrocks program is the nation’s largest fundraiser associated with St. Patrick’s Day. This year’s program raised more than $22 million in support of those affected by muscle disease.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education®, has donated more than $38 million to 8,000 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 5 million schoolchildren. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundationtogether have contributed nearly $200 million to improve communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility andLowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

About MDA

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to saving and improving the lives of anyone with muscle disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. Visit mda.org and follow us at facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews. Learn more about MDA's mission by watching this video.

Submitted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.