Media Advisory April 26, 2008

National Rebuilding Day is April 26!

Rebuilding Together Hartford's 500 volunteers and 75 community partners will make critical repairs to homes of Hartford residents in need

(Hartford, Conn. – April 26, 2008) – On Saturday April 26, 2008, Hartford’s neighborhoods will shine a little brighter, thanks to the more than 500 local volunteers and 75 community partners who will come together to help change the lives of their Hartford neighbors as part of National Rebuilding Day. National Rebuilding Day is a day when affiliates of the national organization Rebuilding Together orchestrate home repairs and modifications for those who are most in need in their local communities. This year, more than 200 Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide will bring teams of volunteers together to rehabilitate and improve the homes of low-income homeowners at no charge. Rebuilding Together Hartford (RTH) is the national organization’s largest Connecticut affiliate. RTH and its community partners will be renovating 25 Hartford homes as part of the national initiative, completing projects ranging from installing new windows to mounting handrails. All projects are done to make the homes more safe, healthy, accessible and energy efficient for the homeowners. “Many of Hartford’s residents – particularly the elderly, people with disabilities and multi-generational families – often live in deteriorating homes that they do not have the financial means or physical ability to repair,” said Greg Secord, RTH’s executive director. It is RTH’s goal to keep those in need living in warmth, safety and independence, while helping to build stronger neighborhoods in Hartford. The organization does so by coordinating the local National Rebuilding Day each year, as well as providing year-round emergency home repairs and homeowner workshops. More than 75 companies and organizations from the Hartford Region will participate in this year’s National Rebuilding Day, including Mercury Excelum (which donated replacement windows), the City of Hartford (which provides various in-kind donations), Travelers and Verizon Wireless (both major sponsors and large sources of volunteers), St. Patrick St. Anthony and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center (both house sponsors that also donated use of their facilities). Skilled trades people and individual volunteers will also make a significant contribution, and the Mayor of Hartford Eddie Perez will be visiting home sites throughout the day. It will be a day of hope, inspiration and change – not only for those receiving help, but also for those volunteering their help.

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MEDIA INVITE – Please come and experience the renovations first hand: WHAT: National Rebuilding Day WHEN: April 26, 2008; check in 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.; renovations continue until 4 p.m. WHERE: Check in at St. Francis Hospital, 1000 Asylum Avenue, Hartford; renovations will occur

at 25 homes throughout Hartford’s Blue Hills neighborhood. Please see below for six home profiles. Home photos are attached. Media is invited to visit these, or any other participating home, on National Rebuilding Day.

CONTACT: Greg Secord, executive director, Rebuilding Together Hartford, gsecord@rthartford.org,

office/cell = 860.757.9428 Emily Cretella, Pita Communications, emily@pitacomm.com, 860.293.0157 x. 23; cell = 203.671.3612.

Mayor Eddie Perez will be visiting the following Hartford homes throughout the day: 8 a.m. Speaking at St. Francis volunteer check in 9 a.m. 132 Westbourne Parkway 9:20 a.m. 95 Canterbury St 9:40 a.m. 86 Sharon St 10 a.m. 325 Lyme St 10:20 a.m. 216 W. Morningside St 10:40 a.m. 151-153 Vine St 11 a.m. 42 Clark St 11:20 a.m. 77 Allen Place 11:40 a.m. 25 Dexter St 12 p.m. 23 Goodrich St

HOME PROFILES 25 DEXTER STREET Homeowner: Florence Morkus; 953-8945 Mrs. Morkus is an 85-year-old widow and has resided in her home for more than 50 years. She is a veteran of World War II and she is being served by Rebuilding Together’s Hero’s At Home Veterans Housing program. Mrs. Morkus lives on a fixed income and is unable to make many of the necessary repairs. Repairs to be done:

Install new windows and new alarm contacts on the windows. Install a new under-the-counter microwave. Install two new outside freeze-proof water faucets. Other miscellaneous repairs.

House Sponsors: CB Richard Ellis Mercury Excelum – Window Donation House Captain: Phil Silverman Volunteers: CB Richard Ellis

325 LYME STREET Homeowner: George & Evelyn Redding; 243-2633 Mr. & Mrs. Redding are an elderly couple in their late 60’s and have lived in their home for the past 20 years. Mr. Redding has severe dementia, and it is difficult at times for Mrs. Redding to care for him. The Redding’s live on a fixed income, and Mrs. Redding continues to work one day per week to help make ends meet. Repairs to be done:

Install new tub surround in upstairs bath. Install new kitchen counter and double-bowl stainless steel sink. Paint ceiling in kitchen and first-floor bath. Install grab bars where needed. Install smoke and CO detectors as needed. Repair damage to garage.

House Sponsors: Imagineers LLC House Captain / Volunteer Coordinator: Rick Mulcunry / Curt Pandiscio Volunteers: Farmington High School Imagineers LLC

169 THOMASTON STREET Homeowner: Benjamin and Bobbie Smith; 371-6303 Mr. & Mrs. Smith are an elderly couple who have resided in their home for the past 35 years. They live on a fixed income and cannot afford to make many of the necessary repairs to their home. This home was selected as a pilot for RTH’s energy efficiency program funded by American Petroleum Institute. Repairs to be done:

Properly position back porch, fix stairs and add railings. Install front stairs and railings. Add exhaust in bathroom and fix shower and ceiling. Replace broken windows in garage. Replace storm doors. Add weather stripping to front and back doors, and front windows. Other energy efficient modifications and/or repairs.

House Sponsors: McCarter & English LLP American Petroleum Institute House Captain / Volunteer Coordinator: Amy Santangelo / Jaime Eisenberg Volunteers: McCarter & English LLP Verizon Wireless

402 BELLEVUE STREET Homeowner: Barbara Clayton; 247-1386 Ms. Clayton is 68 years old and has lived in her home for the past 21 years. She resides in the home with her son. Ms. Clayton retired from Aetna and lives on a fixed-income. Repairs to be done:

Build a new landing, stairs and improve the side entrance. Repair basement stairs, install new handrails and install light fixture. Install bathroom vanity and sink. Install electrical and cable outlet in basement to eliminate trip hazard.

House Sponsors: City of Hartford House Captain / Volunteer Coordinator: Cesar Altamirano / Kristen Moriarity Volunteers: Verizon Wireless

53 CHATHAM STREET Homeowner: Alice Tatum; 728-5981 Ms. Alice Tatum is 65 years old and has lived in her home for the past 26 years. She resides in the home with her elderly mother who has trouble walking and has a heart condition. Both Alice and her mom live on a fixed-income and cannot afford to make many of the necessary repairs that are needed. Repairs to be done:

Basement stair replacement. Install light at bottom of basement stairs. Repair outside lattice / lower outside trim painting. Replace missing gutters.

House Sponsors: Webster Bank House Captain / Volunteer Coordinator: Jeanne Colgan / Dan Granucci Volunteers: Webster Bank

81 EAST BURNHAM STREET Homeowner: Beverly Smith; 243-3438 Ms. Smith is 55 years old and has a disability. She resides alone in her home, has lived there for the past 29 years and is described as a wonderful person who is very neighborly. Ms. Smith lives on a fixed income and cannot afford to make many of the necessary repairs to her home. Repairs to be done:

Install new handrail, bathroom faucet and bathroom fan and light. Fix leak under cabinet and install light switch. Install 4 new hinges for hallway closets and install a new hallway closet door. Install 9’ handrail and lights in the ceiling. Remove broken staircase from side entrance. Install new storm door, peep hole, lock and deadbolt into main door. Address the lighting issue on exterior of home.

House Sponsors: Aetna House Captain / Volunteer Coordinator: Romano Imerini / Jennifer Imerini Volunteers: Aetna Verizon Wireless *** Rebuilding Together Hartford is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization bringing volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners, enabling them to live in warmth, safety and independence. For more information, visit www.rthartford.org.

Rebuilding Together is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and promotes the replication and coordination of affiliates throughout the United States. It has more than 200 affiliates nationwide and is celebrating its 20th year as a national organization, recently completing more than 100,000 projects. In 2008, Rebuilding Together’s Affiliate Network has a goal of 10,000 projects (homes and non-profit facilities) with a market value over $1 million. Visit www.rebuildingtogether.org for more.