For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release
March 29, 2006
Contact: Becky Fleischauer, 202-220-2360; bfleischauer@nw.org

NeighborWorks Hurricane Rebuilding Work Gets a Boost from
Sears and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Washington, D.C. – NeighborWorks® hurricane rebuilding efforts are receiving welcome support from Sears and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. From April 2 - 29, Sears and ABC will encourage viewers and customers to make donations at more than 2,000 Sears stores and on sears.com. All donations will benefit NeighborWorks’ Gulf Coast region rebuilding efforts, which includes providing repair and construction expertise, and financial and homeownership counseling—particularly help in avoiding predatory contractors and lenders that are so prevalent after disasters.

“Having this kind of high-profile, high-impact support means so much to communities that continue to endure a long cleanup and rebuilding process,” said Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America. “This national attention comes at a critical time, providing survivors with much-needed help and hope.”

The Sears and ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition partnership, titled “Winds of Change,” coincides with a special series of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition programs called “After the Storm.” The special four-week series of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition began airing on ABC Thursday, March 23, 8 - 9 p.m. EST and will continue at one same day and time for three additional weeks.

This year NeighborWorks America will contribute more than $3 million toward immediate relief efforts, while leveraging new partnerships for longer-term development projects. For every dollar they receive, NeighborWorks organizations leverage at least $20 in private, philanthropic and other sources.

By 2010 NeighborWorks will

• Create 10,000 new or rehabilitated affordable homes for Gulf residents and Katrina-impacted families,
• Help 100,000 families preserve homeownership, protect their financial assets or achieve homeownership,
• Invest $100,000,000 in communities to spur economic development and the creation of affordable housing
• Offer educational workshops and conferences to give communities the tools and information to clean up safely and rebuild on a firm foundation. For example, we’ve learned that unless mold is removed in a very specific way – the health and structural threat to families is enormous.
• Spearhead NeighborWorks Community Leadership Initiatives to enable resident voices to be heard in the rebuilding process and grow community leaders equipped to lead residents through necessary changes and improvements.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America provides financial support, technical assistance and training for communities across the nation, including the NeighborWorks network -- a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $10 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 780,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.