The Craftsman Brand's "House United" Program Culminates in Charlotte; Completed Home to be Donated to a Military Veteran in the Belmont Neighborhood

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The home that was built as part of the Craftsman "House United" program led by the Craftsman brand with assistance from DIY expert Ty Pennington, Rebuilding Together, Sears Heroes at Home, NextGen Home built by Champion Home Builders, and Bank of America during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions will be given to John Jones II, a U.S. Army veteran. Jones and his family will move to their newly donated home in Charlotte's Belmont community today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090421/REBUILDINGLOGO)

Half of this unique modular home was built in Tampa, Fla. during the RNC on Aug. 28 and the other half was built in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 3 during the DNC. State delegates from both conventions hammered nails and painted alongside Ty Pennington and volunteers from Rebuilding Together, Sears Heroes at Home and Bank of America.

"This house is a physical reminder of the positive legacy that both conventions leave behind and the power of what we can achieve when we work together," said Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx.  "I'd like to thank all the sponsors and all the volunteers in Charlotte and Tampa who worked to build this house, and on behalf of the City of Charlotte, I'd like to be the first to welcome Sergeant John Jones II and his family to their new home."

After completing his military service, Jones, his wife Tanisha, and their three children relocated from Goldsboro to Charlotte where they initially found themselves homeless.  With assistance from the American Legion, the Jones family was able to secure rental housing and assistance from the State.  Jones cannot currently work because of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but is receiving treatment to be able to someday return to work. Therefore, he receives disability assistance from the Veterans Administration.

"I am extremely proud of all the volunteers and elected officials that took part in the House United project," said Gary A. Officer, the CEO of Rebuilding Together. "John Jones has given so much to our country, and I am happy we could work together to give something back to him."

Jones served as a Sergeant in the Army from 2000-2010. During his service, Jones was deployed on two tours of duty in the Middle East – Kuwait in 2003/2004 and Iraq in 2006/2007 – where he served as a Water Craft Operator.  In this role, Jones was responsible for the transportation of troops and supplies via sea vessels, he also helped build bridges.  The ravages of war during his deployments resulted in PTSD and severe migraines.   Jones also sustained respiratory injuries due to the smoke from oil wells as well as burns and rashes from sun exposure.

"Uniformed service members are often the unsung heroes within our communities," said Michael Castleman, president, Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and SVP Sears Holdings. "The Craftsman brand and Sears not only honor their commitment to community and country, but also take great pride in demonstrating our continued gratitude for the service and sacrifice they and their families make, home and abroad, each day. Welcome home."

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together believes that everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy 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 200 local affiliates complete 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 — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

About Craftsman
The Craftsman brand is America's most trusted tool brand.  For more than 85 years, the Craftsman brand has developed innovative tools and products, earning a reputation for unsurpassed quality and durability, trusted for generations. Craftsman offers a full range of hand and power tools that meet the needs of the DIY user to the demanding professional.  In addition, Craftsman also offers Lawn and Garden products and tool storage. 

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is a leading integrated retailer with over 2,600 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of ShopYourWay, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com.  Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance.  Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection.   We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 15 million service and installation calls made annually and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2012 ENERGY STAR® "Corporate Commitment Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads.  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. Twitter: @searsholdings | |Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

SOURCE Rebuilding Together