Rebuilding Together and Lowe's to Build a Healthy Neighborhood in Greater Hilltop, Columbus, OH

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit organization, and its local affiliate Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, along with Lowe's and its Heroes volunteers, other national partners, local businesses and volunteers to rehabilitate 16 homes and build a new playground. The three-day project includes revitalizing the Greater Hilltop neighborhood with landscaping and other services to ensure safe and healthy living environments.  In addition, Rebuilding Together and Lowe's will launch the national 2013 Tradesperson of the Year campaign with HGTV/DIY host Chris Grundy.

HOW:  Major interior and exterior renovations will include: repairing windows and doors, rehabilitating kitchens and bathrooms, repairing electrical problems, replacing roofing and gutters, replacing flooring, installing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, adding safety handrails and accessibility features, and yard clean-up.

Rebuilding Together and Carter's Kids – HGTV host Carter Oosterhouse's nonprofit charity, which promotes health and fitness in America's youth – will build a new playground for local children adjacent to the neighborhood rebuilding project.

Additional national partners include hospitality sponsor Choice Hotels, Crate & Barrel and Assurant.

Media representatives are invited to tour project homes, interview homeowners, volunteers, participating civic leaders, and sponsors.

WHEN:  
Thursday, June 20

• 8:00 a.m.      Program Kick-off; media tours available upon request

Friday, June 21

• 12:30 p.m.    Carter Oosterhouse – Carter's Kids playground ribbon cutting

Saturday, June 22

• 12:30 p.m.    Community Celebration Ribbon Cutting & Closing Remarks         

WHERE:  
Media/VIP Check-in

• 300 South Highland
  Columbus Hilltop Neighborhood - parking at New Highland elementary school

WHO:  Available for interviews:

• John Fiegel, Interim CEO and President, Rebuilding Together - National Office
• John White, Chief Business Officer, Rebuilding Together - National Office
• HGTV/DIY:  on-air host Chris Grundy
• Carter's Kids: Carter Oosterhouse, founder of Carter's Kids 

Rebuilding Together online and social media links:
For more information about Rebuilding Together's Building a Healthy Neighborhood in Columbus, OH, please refer to: http://rebuildingtogether.org/news-item/bahn2013-columbus/

Follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter at @WeRebuild13 and @RebldgTogthr using the hashtag #BaHN13

For more information about Tradesperson of the Year refer to: RTTradespersonoftheyear.com

About Rebuilding Together:
Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our close to 200 local affiliates complete nearly 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of nearly 200,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us at  www.RebuildingTogether.org

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 donated more than $36 million to 8,000 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 4 million schoolchildren. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. In 2012, 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

About Carter's Kids:
Carter's Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and promoting awareness of fitness and self-esteem for America's youth. Founded in 2008 by TV host Carter Oosterhouse, the purpose of Carter's Kids is to increase the activity level of kids by building and developing community parks and playgrounds in their neighborhoods. These play spaces have been found to have a positive effect on the cognitive, social and physical development of the children who use them. www.carters-kids.org

SOURCE Rebuilding Together