Rebuilding Together Unveils New and Customized Home for Injured U.S. Veteran

Rebuilding Together, Sears and NextGen build home for injured U.S. Veteran and his family

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, has collaborated with Sears Holdings, NextGen Home Experience, and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay to unveil a new home to veteran Waldemar Alameda.

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Rebuilding Together and Sears' Heroes at Home program, an initiative which assists veterans and their families, has teamed with NextGen Home Experience to build an energy efficient and accessible home for the Alameda family.

U.S. National Guard and Army Veteran, Waldemar Alameda, served in multiple tours of Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007, he was severely injured by an IED explosion while serving in Iraq. As a result, he suffers from severe leg and back pain and traumatic brain injury, which have significantly limited his mobility and home independence. NextGen customized a home for the Alameda family, which includes: a modular ramp for wheelchair access, various lifts and a specialized chair to help Alameda maneuver throughout the home.

"Turning homes into livable, viable residences is a cornerstone of Rebuilding Together's work, and we revitalize communities by serving well-deserving homeowners and veterans, such as Mr. Alameda," stated Gary A. Officer.  "Our collaborative effort with Sears through Heroes at Home connected NextGen Home Experience, Champion Home Builders Inc. and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, for an incredible home project that will allow the Alameda family to pursue a life of safety and independence. We have truly entered a new threshold of housing, to ensure the safety and future of the Alameda family."

The home includes numerous green housing and sustainable elements to maximize water and energy efficiency and the use of recyclable materials.

To learn more about the Heroes at Home program and Rebuilding Together, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

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 Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada.  Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance.  Sears Holdings is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands.  It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart.  We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually.  Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.  For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.

About the NextGen Home Experience

The NextGen Home Experience is produced by iShow.com®, located in Bellevue, WA. For nine years, the NextGen Home Experience® has been the place to find the "Next" in Next Generation products and services for the American Home at major trade events, online at www.nextgenhome.com, in print and on television.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together