LOWE’S INVESTS $350K TO HELP CREATIVETS CONVERT AN OLD NASHVILLE CHURCH INTO A 24/7 HEALING CENTER FOR VETERANS
Grant supports Nashville-based nonprofit’s mission to help wounded veterans heal through art and music, offering a place to turn when post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms strike.
NASHVILLE – August 11, 2026 – CreatiVets, a Nashville-based nonprofit empowering veterans to heal through art and
music, has been selected to receive a $350K grant through Lowe’s Community Impact program. The grant will support
the renovation of a long-abandoned, vacant church into a 24/7 healing center – a place for veterans to turn to at any
time for community and support. CreatiVets is just one of 100 organizations nationwide chosen for this year’s Lowe’s
Community Impact Grants, selected from more than 5,000 community nominations submitted through Lowe’s
Community Bucket List.
Shortly after CreatiVets acquired the church early last year, the property was vandalized – an unexpected setback that hit the organization financially just as renovations were getting underway. The grant from Lowe’s will enable CreatiVets to regain momentum and move forward with the renovation project, which will offer spaces for veterans to participate in music, painting, sculpture, theater, screenwriting, and other arts. Additionally, the center will serve as the new headquarters for CreatiVets.
“PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress) doesn’t come with a schedule. It can strike at the most inopportune times, when healthy support isn’t always readily available. We wanted to make sure no veteran has to face those moments alone,” said Richard Casper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets, as well as a Marine Corps Veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
According to Department of Defense data, an estimated 300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan live withPTS. Veterans suffering from PTS from various traumas of service and war, relive the helplessness, fear and horror years
– even decades – after experiencing their traumatic events; the symptoms can lead to anxiety, depression and suicide.
CreatiVets takes a distinct approach to healing through the power of self-expression. Art gives veterans a way to
transform their stories of trauma and struggle into something that can inspire others and fuel their own continued
healing, turning pain into purpose. Through compassion, CreatiVets is helping veterans live again.
That belief is at the core of the organization’s signature songwriting program, which brings wounded veterans to
Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, where they are paired one-on-one with a professional songwriter. For many
participants, the experience marks the first time they have ever been able to express themselves and share their story
with anyone. Veterans and staff alike describe the process as deeply cathartic, and often the first real step toward
healing. With Lowe’s support and the new 24/7 healing center, CreatiVets will be able to better meet the long waiting
list of interested participants for their programming and enroll 3X the number of Veterans served currently.
“I always tell people we trick veterans into art and music. They usually walk in reluctant, not wanting to be there. But
once we get a pen or a paintbrush in their hands, something shifts. It becomes healing, cathartic, and often lifesaving,”
said Casper. “We’ve seen it happen with more than 5,000 veterans since we started this organization. This grant from
Lowe’s means we finally get to give them a permanent place for support — any hour, any day, whenever they need help
the most.”
The grant is part of Lowe’s five-year, $100 million commitment to revitalizing and restoring hometowns across the
country. Projects address a range of local needs, from expanding food pantries to restoring shelters and safe housing
resources to revive outdoor spaces and renovating facilities for first responders and veterans.
ABOUT CREATIVETS
CreatiVets is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers wounded veterans to heal through art and
music. We work primarily with veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, giving
them opportunities to use art, music, and creative writing to heal their unseen wounds of war. Our aim is to
equip veterans with lifelong tools for success beyond the battlefield. Learn more about our mission and
programs at creativets.org.
ABOUT LOWE’S
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company with total fiscal
2025 sales of more than $86 billion. Lowe’s employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over
1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers. Based in Mooresville, N.C.,
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing,
improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing
disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Janet Rives: janet@creativets.org
Nicole Smart: nicole@creativets.org
Lowes Public Relations: PublicRelations@lowes.com