'HGTV Change the World. Start at Home' Campaign to Recognize Community Volunteers in 2010

'HGTV Change the World. Start at Home' Campaign to Recognize Community Volunteers in 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Every day, people who may consider themselves ordinary change the world in extraordinary ways. In 2010, as part of its HGTV Change the World. Start at Home campaign, the successful community revitalization initiative, HGTV is inviting online visitors to share their stories about local volunteers who have made a positive impact on someone's home or neighborhood. Beginning January 1, 2010, each month HGTV will select one of these "HGTV Community Crusaders"--an individual whose story exemplifies the true spirit of volunteerism in their community--and award them a cash contribution. In addition, in honor of each HGTV Community Crusader, the network will donate a cash contribution to its Change the World campaign partner, Rebuilding Together, the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve and revitalize neighborhoods by providing critical home repair services to those in need.

Visitors to HGTV.com/changetheworld can be considered for the HGTV Community Crusader award by uploading videos, pictures and stories about local volunteers who are making a positive difference in a community. Each HGTV Community Crusader also will be featured in a campaign video that will air on HGTV and HGTV.com.

"As we recognize those who strive to help people and communities in need, we hope to inspire others to make a difference in their neighborhoods," said Jim Samples, president, HGTV.

Hence Forland, the owner of Windsor Transitional House, a veteran's group home in St. Louis, Mo., will be the first HGTV Community Crusader honoree for January 2010. Hence, whose story was featured as part of HGTV's Change the World: American Heroes special that aired in November, started the Windsor Transitional Home when he noticed veterans from the local community center living in an abandoned building nearby.

Since 2008, the HGTV Change the World. Start at Home initiative has provided financial support and mobilized volunteers to renovate residences and public spaces in cities across the country.

About HGTV

HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and is one of cable's top-rated networks. HGTV's website, HGTV.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination, which attracts an average of more than four million unique visitors per month.

About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing critical home repair and modification services to those in need at no cost to homeowners. 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. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together also rehabilitates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to aging in place, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. Media contact: BCarter@rebuildingtogether.org, (202) 518-3500.

Source: HGTV

CONTACT: Lynne Davis, HGTV, +1-212-549-8612, ldavis@hgtv.com, or Vicki
Louie, Dera, Roslan & Campion Public Relations, +1-212-966-4600,
Victoria@drcpublicrelations.com

Web Site: http://www.hgtv.com/

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