HGTV Stars Join Local Volunteers as Part of Network's 'Change the World. Start at Home' Week

HGTV Stars Join Local Volunteers as Part of Network's 'Change the World. Start at Home' Week

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- HGTV's top experts will put their skills to work in select cities across the country on Monday, April 28, for Change the World. Start at Home(SM) Week, part of the network's national community revitalization and environmental awareness campaign, Change the World. Start at Home. On this day, HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse, Eric Stromer, Frank Fontana, Taniya Nayak, Lauren Lake and Food Network's Emeril Lagasse will donate their time and expertise at project sites in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Minn., Baltimore, Md., and New Orleans, La., alongside local volunteers. The special week of the initiative, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Rebuilding Together and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will run through Friday, May 2.

Carter Oosterhouse, expert craftsman of HGTV's Carter Can; Red, Hot and Green and host of the HGTV Green Home Giveaway, will appear in Washington, D.C.; Eric Stromer, host and expert builder of Over Your Head will bring his muscle to Denver; Frank Fontana, a designer for Design on a Dime, will bring his vision to the Twin Cities area; Taniya Nayak, a designer for Designed to Sell, will join volunteers in Baltimore; and Lauren Lake, designer for Spice Up My Kitchen, will bring her expertise to New Orleans. Joining Lauren is Emeril Lagasse of Food Network, who will be trading his spatula for a shovel in his hometown of New Orleans.

As part of the campaign week, three revitalization projects in each city, which consist of a community home, an educational facility and a shared open space, such as a park or garden, will receive volunteer help. The specific sites were selected because each complimented the campaign's goal to focus on community revitalization and environmentally friendly building and lifestyle practices.

"Through the collective effort of volunteers and HGTV partners, these renovation projects will help provide a much-needed sustainable change in these communities," said Jim Samples, president of HGTV. "We encourage everyone to participate by volunteering in one of the selected cities or in their own communities."

Additionally, www.hgtv.com/changetheworld will be host to a number of volunteer opportunities to help consumers get involved in revitalizing their own communities. Volunteers are still needed for projects in all cities, including skilled laborers. Site visitors also can explore local volunteer opportunities, view information about the campaign projects and share photos and videos of their contribution to the community during Change the World. Start at Home Week. Visitors will also find simple tips to live a more eco-conscious and sustainable lifestyle.

About HGTV

HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 95 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 that attracts an average of 5.4 million unique visitors per month. HGTV owns 33 percent of HGTV Canada and provides much of the Canadian network's daily programming. The network's branded programming also can be seen in 124 territories across all seven continents and its selected programming is available to service men and women on board Navy ships and through American Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS) which services more than 1,000 outlets in over 175 countries. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York, HGTV is wholly owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP) , which also operates Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country.

About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve homeownership and neighborhoods by providing rehabilitation services free of charge to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses, and the hands-on work of a quarter-million volunteers, Rebuilding Together rehabs and repairs more than 9000 homes each year. The market value of this work is in excess of $100 million annually. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabs community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on elder home safety, energy efficiency, veterans housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together has grown to 225 affiliates nationwide since its founding in 1988, and is now preserving safe and healthy homes in 1800 communities nationwide. Rebuilding Together celebrated the rehabilitation of its 100,000th home in 2006. For details, see www.rebuildingtogether.org or call 1-800-REHAB-9.

About The National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history -- and the important moments of everyday life -- took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, six regional offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America's story. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.

About The Natural Resources Defense Council

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

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Source: HGTV

CONTACT: Lynne Davis, HGTV, +1-212-549-8612, ldavis@hgtv.com; Vicki
Hwang, Porter Novelli, +1-212-601-8237, vicki.hwang@porternovelli.com

Web site: http://hgtv.com/
http://www.hgtv.com/changetheworld
http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
http://www.nationaltrust.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment