Honoring Marvin Ellis: 2025 George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards

Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's, emphasizes the company's commitment to community impact and philanthropy, rooted in his personal values of service and giving back, instilled by his upbringing in Tennessee. Highlighting Lowe's Hometowns program, Ellison shares how the initiative supports communities through grants and volunteer projects, such as renovating public spaces and aiding disaster recovery. He celebrates the collective efforts of Lowe's associates in uplifting communities, reflecting on personal experiences and the company's partnership with organizations like Points of Light to enhance philanthropic efforts. Ellison's leadership aims to foster pride among employees and create meaningful community change.

• Private companies are not just business entities; they serve as integral parts of the community, fostering connections with the people and places they serve.
• The values of a company's leadership significantly influence its culture and impact on the community.
• Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's, is highlighted as an example of a leader whose personal values shape the company's community-oriented culture.

"We can observe that private companies are not just hubs of industry. They are centers of community and when they are functioning well connected to the people and places that they serve."

• This quote emphasizes the dual role of companies as both economic and community entities, highlighting the importance of their connection with the community.

"You may know Marvin Ellison as the global CEO of Lowe's Home Improvement, but I am told that what most defines him are the values instilled in him by his parents, by his deep faith, and by his connection to the 300,000 red vest associates at Lowe's and the communities they serve."

• This quote underscores the influence of Marvin Ellison's personal values on his leadership style and the community-focused culture at Lowe's.

• Marvin Ellison's upbringing in a small town in Tennessee instilled in him a sense of responsibility to help others, regardless of one's own financial means.
• His faith and personal values drive his daily actions and decisions, aiming to make a positive difference in people's lives.
• Ellison emphasizes the power of individual action in creating community impact.

"I grew up in this little small town in western Tennessee and you know we didn't have a lot of financial means but the one thing that that my parents taught us is that even though we didn't have a lot, there were other people who had less than we did."

• This quote illustrates the foundational lessons of empathy and community responsibility imparted to Ellison during his upbringing.

"One of the things I pray every morning is for God to give me the ability to do something good today to make a difference in somebody's life in a positive way."

• This quote highlights Ellison's daily commitment to making a positive impact, driven by his faith and personal values.

• Lowe's has a program called Lowe's Hometown, which issues 100 grants annually to improve community spaces.
• The program received 5,000 applications, demonstrating the high demand and need for community support.
• Partnerships with organizations like Points of Light are crucial for identifying needs and effectively allocating resources for maximum impact.

"We have this great program we call it Lowe's hometown where we basically issue 100 grants uh every year to just improve community spaces."

• This quote outlines the purpose and scope of Lowe's Hometown program, which aims to enhance community spaces through grants.

"Partnerships, you know, like this are incredibly meaningful for us because it gives us the ability to make sure that we get it right and that we are using these dollars wisely so we can make the greatest impact to the to the highest number of people."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships in ensuring effective and impactful community support.

• Marvin Ellison personally engages in community projects, including those in his hometown, demonstrating his commitment to community service.
• His involvement includes volunteering and contributing to projects, such as the repair of the city hall in Brownsville, Tennessee.
• Ellison's personal engagement serves as a model for corporate leaders to actively participate in community initiatives.

"Couple years ago, I had a a grant request from my hometown, my literal little hometown in Brownsville, Tennessee. The city hall had come under disrepair. We were able to donate the funds."

• This quote highlights Ellison's personal connection and contribution to community projects, reinforcing the importance of leaders being actively involved.

"I was able to go out uh and volunteer and my my dad was was a part of that. I was able to to go to my house still he still lives in the same house I grew up in and I put him in a low sweater. So, he and I had the exact same sweater on. We work on the project."

• This quote illustrates Ellison's hands-on involvement in community projects with his family, exemplifying his dedication to service and community improvement.

• The speaker shares a personal story about appearing on the front page of a local newspaper with their father, emphasizing the small-town community connection.
• The story highlights the importance of community and familial ties, showing pride in shared experiences.

"Somehow he gets a photo of me and my dad both wearing these low and guess what ended up on the front page of the paper."

• This quote reflects the speaker's connection to their hometown and the shared moment of pride with their father.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of companies engaging in active volunteerism and philanthropy, stating that these values are as important as compensation in attracting talent.
• They express a desire for employees to feel proud and confident about working for their company, implying that corporate values and social responsibility are integral to employee satisfaction.

"I want any Lowe's associate, if someone asks them where they work, I want them to have a lot of pride and a lot of confidence to say that they work for Lowe's."

• This quote underscores the speaker's commitment to fostering a sense of pride and community within the company, aligning with broader corporate social responsibility goals.

• The speaker expresses gratitude for receiving the George HW Bush Points of Light Award, framing it as a humbling and meaningful recognition.
• They acknowledge the contributions of others, including family, the Bush family, and the Points of Light organization, highlighting the collective effort in achieving the award.

"And to be recognized in connection with that vision is a significant honor."

• This quote shows the speaker's appreciation for the award and the values it represents, emphasizing the importance of service and community impact.

• The speaker attributes the award to the collective efforts of the 300,000 employees at Lowe's, whom they refer to as associates.
• They highlight the collaborative nature of their leadership and the role of their team in driving positive change in communities.

"So tonight, this award represents the wonderful associates that I am fortunate to lead."

• This quote illustrates the speaker's view of leadership as a shared journey, recognizing the contributions of their team in achieving recognition and success.

• The speaker begins by acknowledging the presence of many employees and joking about who is running the company in their absence.
• Special mention is made of the speaker's wife, Sharon, highlighting their long marriage and shared blessings.

"Thank you. We got a lot of payroll here tonight, so I'm not sure As I've said before, I don't know who's running the company because they're all here. I also want to acknowledge my beautiful wife, Sharon, who's here tonight. Sharon and I have been together, believe it or not, for 39 years."

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of family and the ability to be a blessing to others.

"And God has blessed us with two wonderful children. But more importantly, he's blessed us to have the ability to be a blessing to others."

• The speaker discusses Lowe's long history of community involvement and their personal motivation to enhance this tradition upon joining the company in 2018.
• Introduction of the Hometown Program aimed at giving back to communities through volunteerism and grant funding.

"So the Gloss has a a long history, which is a good thing. Lowe's has a long history of doing really important work in the community. So when I arrived at the company in 2018, I thought, how can I help fuel this burning desire to help?"

• The program was launched in partnership with Points of Light, focusing on community engagement and forming long-term connections.

"The idea was to tap into our company's passion for giving back to the places where we live and work. And through volunteerism, to grant funding, we thought we could do something really special."

• The program has facilitated meaningful projects, such as the renovation of a city hall in Brownsville, Tennessee, turning it into a home for police and first responders.
• Personal anecdotes underscore the emotional impact of these initiatives, including a reunion with the speaker's old football coach.

"As you saw in the video, uh thanks to this initiative, I had a chance to return to my hometown in Brownsville, Tennessee to be part of that city hall renovation project."

• The speaker highlights the program's growth into a five-year, $100 million commitment with numerous community projects completed annually.

"So, if you fast forward, Lowe's's hometown program has become the company's most impactful initiative ever. We scaled it and we made it a five-year, $100 million commitment through 2026."

• The speaker expresses gratitude for the associates' dedication to community projects, emphasizing their role in the program's success.
• Specific examples of associates' contributions include building playgrounds, beds, and painting community centers.

"So listen, I'm here tonight for every associate who picked up a shovel at a playground bill. I'm here for every associate who swung a hammer to build a bed for a child sleeping on the floor."

• The speaker underscores that the program is still in its early stages, with much more to achieve.

"It's been an amazing program, and I can tell you right now, folks, we're just getting started."

• Lowe's emphasizes community service and philanthropy as core elements of its mission, aiming to make significant impacts in communities through various projects and partnerships.
• The company supports several organizations in Washington, DC, through grants, focusing on uplifting under-resourced youth, providing safer housing for women and families, and restoring community gardens.
• Lowe's is committed to delivering "10 million square feet of impact" as a new metric to quantify their philanthropic efforts, ensuring continuous support for community needs.

"We helped Horton's kids expand their reach to uplift under-resourced youth with a new community center."

• This quote highlights Lowe's involvement in supporting educational and community development initiatives for underprivileged children.

"We supported how the roof and creating a safer housing for women and families recovering from trauma and homelessness."

• This statement underscores Lowe's commitment to providing secure housing solutions for vulnerable populations, emphasizing their role in addressing homelessness and trauma recovery.

"We partnered with rebuilding together to restore community gardens that are now providing fresh food."

• The quote illustrates Lowe's efforts in promoting sustainability and food security through community gardening projects.

• The speaker shares a personal philosophy rooted in generosity and community support, influenced by family values and upbringing.
• The speaker's background in a large family and experiences of scarcity shaped a lifelong commitment to giving and helping others.
• The emphasis on open-handed generosity reflects a belief in mutual aid and community resilience.

"I live my entire life with an open hand because I always understood the importance of giving to others."

• This quote reveals the speaker's personal commitment to generosity and the belief that giving is essential for community well-being.

"My parents were so instrumental in my success and they taught me to never let your neighbor go without."

• The quote highlights the influence of the speaker's parents in instilling values of empathy and community support, forming the foundation of their philanthropic approach.

• Lowe's corporate philosophy integrates employee satisfaction, customer experience, and community improvement as pathways to creating shareholder value.
• The company believes that supporting communities is integral to its identity and operational ethos.
• Lowe's commitment to community service is portrayed as a reflection of its core values and long-term strategy.

"We believe if we give our associates an exceptional place to work, provide our customers with a great place to shop, and make the communities where we live and work better, we will create shareholder value."

• This quote encapsulates Lowe's holistic approach to business, linking employee welfare, customer satisfaction, and community service to financial success.

"When help is needed in the community, we show up. That's who we are. That's who we will always be."

• The statement reinforces Lowe's dedication to being a reliable and proactive community partner, emphasizing their enduring commitment to social responsibility.