Entertainment Community Helps Build Eight Homes in Burbank During "Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon"

LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,000 celebrity, entertainment industry, and executive volunteers are expected to turn out over the next week to help Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) and its sponsors build eight affordable, sustainable homes as part of the Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity (HFHFH) program. The week-long build sponsored by Lowe's, will take place June 10 - June 18 and will feature special build events including today's Executive Build, four Hollywood build days and the Lowe's Power Women, Power Tools build. This event will bring together some of the most powerful voices in Hollywood and top corporations to address the affordable housing crisis in Los Angeles and provide a hands-on solution for families in the City of Burbank. Other sponsors include Bernards, Celebrating Home and The Walt Disney Company.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110610/LA18242LOGO-a)

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110610/LA18242LOGO-b)

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110610/LA18242LOGO-c)

"This Build-a-Thon will engage over 1000 corporate and civic leaders to build eight homes that will be the foundation for a strong, new neighborhood in Burbank," says Erin Rank, President and CEO HFH GLA.   "Those who participate will not only lend a hand up to these deserving families, they will leave feeling empowered and inspired, knowing they have helped bring positive change to our community."

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles is teaming up with the Burbank Redevelopment Agency and the Burbank Housing Corporation to build homes in partnership with eight hardworking, low-income homeowners. The Keeler/Elliott Homeownership Development will include seven new townhomes and one rehabilitated single-family home.  Participating celebrity and entertainment industry volunteers will help build the homes alongside HFH GLA partner homeowners during the week-long Build-A-Thon. The new development will improve the lives of the homeowners and the surrounding community by making public infrastructure improvements and creating jobs.

Lowe's, a national Habitat partner since 2004 gave a $250,000 grant for the build. Lowe's will also provide hands-on support throughout the week with teams of employee volunteers working on-site each day and leading "how-to" clinics that teach basic building skills for participating volunteers.

"Lowe's understands the needs of the communities where we live and work, and the opportunity to get out into those communities and build homes for local families shows us first-hand the impact Habitat makes on people's lives every day," said Jeff Starnes, Lowe's Regional Vice President. "Raising our hammers and offering our expertise as Lowe's to other dedicated volunteers is just as important and rewarding as giving the grant necessary to build homes for communities in need."

Additional funding and volunteer support is provided by Bernards, Celebrating Home, The Walt Disney Company and other valued sponsors.  Representatives from the major sponsors will be on hand during the HFHFH Build-A-Thon.  Celebrating Home President Heather Chastain will be speaking at the Lowe's Power Women Power Tools Build day.

Executive Build Day (June 10)

The Build-A-Thon, hosted by Academy Award nominated Writer/ Director Randall Wallace, kicks-off with the Executive Build today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers from HFH GLA's board, staff, Lowe's, Bernards, Celebrating Home and The Walt Disney Company will be swinging hammers and framing homes, and will enjoy a lunch program in which they will hear from partner homeowners about the impact of Habitat for Humanity in their lives.

HFHFH Build Days (June 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18)

Building will continue with four build days on Saturday, June 11; Wednesday, June 15; Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17. Volunteers from Build-A-Thon sponsoring partners, as well as celebrity supporters, will donate their time and talent to further progress construction. The HFHFH build days will build momentum and culminate with the 7th annual all-women build event, Lowe's Power Women, Power Tools.

Lowe's Power Women, Power Tools (June 18)

This is the seventh year for HFH GLA's most popular annual build event. This year Lowe's, the underwriter of Habitat for Humanity International's Women Build program, is sponsoring Power Women, Power Tools. Power Women, Power Tools will take place on Saturday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be hosted by E! News Correspondent Kristina Guerrero. Each year the event attracts hundreds of professional women from all walks of the professional world to demonstrate the true meaning of "girl power." Since 2005, thousands of Power Women, Power Tools volunteers have helped build numerous homes locally and in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf region. This spirit of teamwork and strength is the perfect way to culminate an inspiring and rewarding Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon week.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build simple, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated more than 700 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner. For more information, please visit http://www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663. Visit our blog at http://buildingagreaterla.blogspot.com.

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 brought more than $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2005. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity International and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  To learn more, visit Lowes.com/socialresponsibility.

Media Contacts:
Jo-An Turman
HFH GLA
T: 310-749-6613
[email protected]

Christina Lee
ROGERS & COWAN
T: 310-666-5178
[email protected]

Alison Mullin
Starfish P.R.
T: 310-560-4049
[email protected]

Sarah-Frances Wallace
Lowe's
T: 704/758-4339
[email protected]

SOURCE Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity