New Faces for Helpful Places

Every community has a helpful place – a local organization that contributes to the community’s overall welfare and community members' quality of life. Whether it’s a elementary school, community theater or home for disadvantaged kids, these helpful organizations hold a special place in the hearts of individuals who benefit from them. However, many times, these locations go for years without any renovations or repairs.

Since 2004, Ace Hardware -- known as the "helpful place" -- has teamed up with its retailers, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” Lou Manfredini, and local communities across the country to give facelifts to these types of facilities because giving back to the communities in which Ace stores serve has been part of Ace's history for more than 80 years.

Known as the “New Faces for Helpful Places” program, Ace has renovated 28 organizations, each time rounding up a crew of local volunteers for one day, donating money and supplies, and providing renovations such as new paint, lighting, storage, and bathroom and kitchen repairs. In total, Ace has donated more than $190,000 to local “helpful places” across the country.

In 2006, Ace was featured in the April 10 episode of “The Apprentice” and became the first company to use its time on the show to launch a charitable initiative, which led to the third year of the "New Faces" program, a partnership with season one winner of "The Apprentice" Bill Rancic, and more than 40 million media impressions showcasing how Ace is helpful inside -- and outside -- the store.