THE HOME DEPOT RAISES $450,000 FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Toronto, ON - August 23, 2004 - Habitat for Humanity Canada was thrilled to receive the news that The Home Depot Canada raised more than $450,000 for Habitat for Humanity in its annual Charity golf tournament last Tuesday.

"This year's Habitat golf tournament was our greatest success to date," said Annette Verschuren, President, The Home Depot Canada. "Our organizations have a long standing relationship - one that we truly cherish - we are so proud to be able to raise this money for our dear friends at Habitat."

Last year's tournament raised approximately $250,000, which helped fund 20 Habitat builds across the country. This year's fundraising efforts will be used in much the same way, providing grants to local Habitat for Humanity affiliates building homes in 2005. The Home Depot stores will further support these local Affiliates with local Team Depot volunteers.

"To the families helped by Habitat for Humanity a shiny new key to their new home can seem like precious metal -- capable of opening the door to a new future full of hope and opportunity. It is such keys, cut from the generosity of Home Depot volunteers, which are making all the difference for families who are trying to break the seemingly endless cycle of poverty."

"Supporting and building homes for low-income families, and helping people realize the dream of home ownership goes hand-in-hand with The Home Depot's commitment to building better communities" added Verschuren. "We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our associates and vendors, and are thrilled to have doubled our tournament donation from 2003!"

The Home Depot's commitment to developing and rehabilitating affordable housing is supported through neighborhood and community development organizations as well as through a national partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The Home Depot has been a platinum partner of Habitat for Humanity in Canada since 1997 and has helped build more than 13 homes for lower income families across the country.

The following Habitat affiliates are recipients of The Home Depot's 2004 Challenge Grants:

Vancouver, B.C.
Kamloops, B.C.
Kelowna, B.C.
Victoria, B.C.
Calgary, AB
Edmonton, AB
Red Deer, AB
Grand Prairie, AB
Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg, MB
Owen Sound, ON
London, ON
Bracebridge, ON
Ottawa, ON
Prince Edward Hastings, ON
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Toronto, ON
Windsor, ON
Charlottetown, PEI
Cabot, NL

Habitat for Humanity is an independent, charitable, faith-based housing program dedicated to the elimination of poverty housing by building homes in partnership with families in need. We build simple, decent, and affordable houses and provide interest-free mortgages to families who would otherwise not be able to purchase their own home. The Habitat program is about home ownership and providing a long-term solution designed to break the poverty cycle. Through volunteer labour, efficient management and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families.

Founded in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement retailer currently operating 1,732 stores, including 104 Home Depot stores in eight Canadian provinces. The company reported net sales for fiscal 2003 of US$64.8 billion and employs more than 315,000 people, including more than 20,000 Canadians.

For more information, please contact:

Nick Cowling
The Home Depot Canada
416-412-4142

David Butler
Senior Corporate Relations Officer
Habitat for Humanity Canada
519-885-4565 - Ext 251
dbutler@habitat.ca