Rebuilding Together National Contest: Rebuilding Dreams Together

A Rebuilding Project to Help Homeowners in Need

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This summer, Rebuilding Together, the non-profit partner of Choice Hotels International, has teamed up with Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® to help homeowners in need through the Rebuilding Dreams Together project.

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The public vote decides which of four finalists, selected by Rebuilding Together affiliates, will have their house repaired and renovated on October 28, 2010, during the week of national "Make a Difference Day".

Rebuilding Together is the largest non-profit organization in the country that focuses on preserving affordable housing and helps rehabilitate homes of low-income homeowners. Voting for the Rebuilding Dreams Together project will begin on August 26, 2010, and the winner will be announced the week of September 13, 2010. Rebuilding Together will assist in the renovation of the winner's home, providing essential repairs. Contestants are as follows:

• Treva (Rebuilding Together Oklahoma City) – Treva is a 68-year-old woman in Oklahoma City whose home is in need of repair following a severe hail storm in May. Her home is near collapse as she struggles to care for her 30-year-old daughter, who recently had a kidney transplant. Treva is partially blind and has heart problems which, along with money obstacles, make it difficult to repair her home. She is now battling the health hazards of a rat infestation due to the holes in her roof. Furthermore, the ceiling is falling in many of the rooms of her home and there are numerous electrical and heating problems.
• Debbie and Scott (Rebuilding Together Orlando) – Debbie and Scott live in Deltona, FL with their terminally ill son. Debbie and Scott have shouldered the financial burden and worries of caring for their son. Debbie was forced to quit her job to provide constant care to her son, and the family now relies on Scott's limited income. Their son's extensive medical needs require serious alterations to the family's house: he needs full support when bathing, the entryways into the house are too small for wheelchair accessibility, and other repairs are required to allow a better quality of life.
• EMQ Families First (Rebuilding Together Sacramento) – Located in Davis, CA, the mission of EMQ Families First is to help children and families in crisis. They are recognized for their innovative mental health treatment, foster care, and social services that help families recover from trauma, abuse and addiction.  The Davis location of Families First has 9 homes on its property that are in need of repair.
• Bessie (Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas) – Bessie is an independent 83-year-old woman living in Dallas, TX, for the past 31 years. Present and active in her community, she prides herself on mentoring younger generations in her low-income neighborhood. She suffers from lung disease, kidney disease and heart problems. She has also fallen several times throughout her home, which is in dire need of various safety modifications. Unfortunately, due to her extensive health problems and a limited budget, she is unable to have these repairs completed on her own.

Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® are sponsoring an additional $4000 to be divided between the runner-ups. The three finalist runner-ups will receive $1000 each and the two semi-finalists runner-ups have received $500 each.  

In addition to the Rebuilding Dreams Together project, Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® are offering all voters the chance to win a sweepstakes package to participate in the project efforts. The package includes airfare for two to the city where the project will be held, participation on the project, hotel accommodations for two nights, and $500 spending money.

For more information on Rebuilding Dreams Together and to cast your vote today, visit www.choicehotels.com/rebuildingtogether

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.) 18 YEARS AND OLDER.    VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes begins 8/25/10 and ends 9/10/10. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit choicehotels.com/rebuildingtogetherrules. Sponsor: Choice Hotels International Services Corp., 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901.

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 trades people, 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 Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 490,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of June 30, 2010, more than 580 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 47,000 rooms, and approximately 100 hotels, representing approximately 8,700 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in 20 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.

You can also follow Choice Hotels on Twitter @ChoiceHotels.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together