SILVER SPRING, Md. (Feb. 19, 2010) – Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels teamed up this month with Rebuilding Together, professional football stars and hundreds of volunteers for the 15th annual Kickoff to Rebuild in Miami, helping to revitalize Miami’s historic community of Coconut Grove.
This year, more than 300 volunteers joined football greats to make critical repairs to seven homes in need with an estimated market value of over $500,000, including labor and supplies. Among the improvements, they added bedrooms and bathrooms; repaired and updated kitchens; provided disability access; painted; landscaped; and installed money-saving, energy-efficiency upgrades. After all the hard work, volunteers kicked back and celebrated with a community block party.
Kickoff to Rebuild 2010 Video: http://www.youtube.com/rebuildingtogether
Photos: For images and caption of Kickoff 2010, click on this link, which stay live till March 3, 2010 https://rcpt.yousendit.com/821464716/51e024bc6d5ee3a14eb020170f79cb9f
“We’ve come to Miami to work side-by-side with hundreds of volunteers and help families as part of our larger commitment to give back to communities across the country,” said Stephen P. Joyce, president and CEO, Choice Hotels International. “At Choice Hotels, we believe hospitality extends far past the front doors of our hotels and into the communities where we live and work. This understanding has made us better hoteliers, employees and people.”
As this year’s Kickoff To Rebuild title sponsor, Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels brought volunteers and legendary “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” to broadcast live at the event. Also at Kickoff to Rebuild, cheerleaders joined a lineup of past and present professional football greats.
Despite the challenging economy, Choice Hotels increased its charitable donations by 55 percent in 2009 over the previous year. This year’s Kickoff to Rebuild is part of the company’s multi-year campaign with Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to revitalize communities and preserve affordable homeownership. Last year, Choice Hotels made a multi-year commitment of $1.5 million to Rebuilding Together. Since Sept. 11, 2009, the company has completed 21 rehabilitation projects across the country, with more than 700 volunteers contributing in excess of 5,000 hours toward the effort.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 485,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of December 31, 2009, more than 700 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 57,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 9,400 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 20 other countries and territories. The company’s Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.
Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.
About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading 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 and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. 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 ageing in place, energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org
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Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.
@ 2009 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sharlet Brennan, Ypartnership PR, 407-838-1707, [email protected]
Jeanette Chin, Ypartnership PR, 212-561-9353, [email protected]
