Lowe's and Rebuilding Together to Reunite Bergen County Family on National Rebuilding Day

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation funding 52 home renovation projects across U.S.

RIDGEWOOD, N.J., April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together Bergen County and long-time partner Lowe's will complete an extensive home renovation project to assist a family on Rebuilding Together's National Rebuilding Day, April 24. Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) awarded the $15,000 grant to help reunite the Vrakas family of five under one roof.

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The Bergen County grant is one of 52 grants totaling $260,000, including additional grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The LCEF funding will provide much-needed renovations for low-income homeowners across the United States on or around National Rebuilding Day.

George and Joy Ann Vrakas and their three children, ages 10 to 13, live in a two-bedroom house with a family room, where the parents sleep. One son has severe autism and currently receives 24-hour care at a residential treatment center. Medical professionals say he is ready to move back home but needs his own bedroom to accommodate ongoing treatment. On April 24, Lowe's and Rebuilding Together Bergen County volunteers will finish adding two bedrooms to the Vrakas' home to help unite the family.

National Rebuilding Day is a cornerstone of Rebuilding Together's 21-year history, and Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation's $1 million annual commitment. Rebuilding Together will repair 3,500 low-income homes and community facilities during National Rebuilding Day 2010.

"The story of the Vrakas family is a perfect representation of the mission of Rebuilding Together," said Gretchen Viggiano, executive director Rebuilding Together Bergen County. "Not only are we able to fix a home assisted by the generous support of Lowe's, but we are also able to reunite a family."

"Lowe's is in the business of helping people improve and maintain their homes, which makes our work with Rebuilding Together to renovate and modify homes a natural and rewarding partnership," said Larry D. Stone, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation.

ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER BERGEN COUNTY

Rebuilding Together Bergen County is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping low-income homeowners live in warmth, safety and independence.  Since its founding in 1998, RTBC has provided assistance to 180 homeowners in 35 Bergen County towns.  Hundreds of volunteers, including members of the skilled trades, work on local projects each year.  For more information about Rebuilding Together Bergen County, visit www.rebuildingtogetherbergen.org or call (201) 447-8886.

Since 2007, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has committed $4 million to support Rebuilding Together's mission.

ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served.  With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled tradespeople, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction.  For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether. 

ABOUT LOWE'S

Lowe's is a proud supporter of Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, SkillsUSA/Skills Canada, and The Nature Conservancy, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities in North America. In 2009, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe's Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe's is a FORTUNE® 50 company with fiscal year 2009 sales of $47.2 billion and has more than 1,700 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  For more information, visit Lowes.com/community.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together