MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --
Who: Sgt. Jonathon VanderWert, a National Guardsman from New Prague,
MN currently serving in Iraq, his wife and their seven
children.
Why: The VanderWert family bought a 100-year-old fixer upper home
in New Prague after their recent marriage and merging of their
two families. With a complete remodel in the plans, the roof
removed and progress begun, a severe storm broke through the
temporary roof and caused serious issues and water damage to
the home. Directly after the storm, Sgt. VanderWert was called
to active duty in Iraq.
What: Sgt. VanderWert & Family are recipients of a complete home
remodel as part of the Heroes at Home campaign coordinated by
Rebuilding Together, Sears, and local remodeling company,
Vision Remodeling.
Remodeling of the family library, 2 laundry rooms, 1 kitchen,
dining room, family room, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (easily a
6 month project) took place in 3 months with an all volunteer
crew. All new furniture, bedding, blinds, dishes and appliances
complete the renovated home.
When: The family will see the completed home for the first time on
Friday February 15th, 2008 at 2:30 PM.
Where: VanderWert Home
201 Second Street NE
New Prague, MN 56071
Media: 1:30 Media Exclusive Preview at home for shooting of B-roll
footage and interviews with key people in charge of project.
2:30 Reveal to wife Blake and kids.
3:00 Press Conference at Queen of Peace Hospital with wife
Blake and kids.
Hospital is one door away from VanderWert home.
Todd Polifka, Master Coordinator of VanderWert remodel
project (owner of Vision Remodeling and President of MN NARI
chapter) and Kathryn Greiner, Executive Director of Rebuilding
Together Twin Cities are available for interviews and will
provide private media tours of home.
Special camera/reporter area available in front room of home
to capture family's expression when they enter into the newly
remodeled home.
Media Contact - Christopher Lower (612) 227-4863 on site.
The VanderWert family moved out of the city to an older home in New Prague in hopes of creating a better living environment for their seven children. Sgt. VanderWert was confident that he would be able to fix the house up himself, but that changed when he was called to active duty with the Minnesota National Guard. As a result, his wife, Blake and their kids were forced to live in undesirable conditions in a home in need of major renovations. Many of the rooms in the home were missing drywall and ceilings, leaving exposed electrical wires, the furnace was not functioning properly coming into a Minnesota winter, and only one bathroom was functional.
Rebuilding Together's Heroes at Home program and Sears came around the family to support them and give back to one of the many brave Minnesota Servicemen and women while they serve and protect us overseas. Vision Remodeling stepped forward to coordinate the over 50 companies and organizations which donated time, goods, and services, and oversaw the completion of the project.
Blake VanderWert and her children will have their first look at the finished home on February 15th at 2:30 PM. The Media and Public are invited to join for a home reveal and walkthrough tours from 2:30-5:00 PM.
A special thanks goes out to those businesses, organizations and individuals that volunteered their time to come together as a community to help this family in their time of need. A heartfelt thank-you is offered to (in alphabetical order): Ace Hardware, American Legion Auxiliary & New Prague Legion Hall, BevComm, Biff's, Inc., Blue Star Families Hometown Operations, Laura & Wade Brod, City of New Prague, Renee Christianson, Clean Streak Inc., Cole's Flowers, Deutsch Construction, Downtown Sound, Duffy's Hardwood Floors, Mike Frost. Econofoods, Electrical Visions, Ferguson, Filament Lighting, Gerold Bros. Construction, Guardian Building Products, Don & Shirley Hennen, Hertaus Floors, JL Tile, K.A. Witt Construction, King's Classic Homes, Twin City Kmart Stores, Kubes Furniture & Flooring, Lakers Sanitation, M&M Foam, Mach Lumber, Midwest Home Services, Char Miller, Minnesota Associated Builders & Contractors, New Prague Mini Storage, New Prague Rotary, New Prague Volunteer Firefighters, New Prague Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary, new Prague Fireman's' Relief Association, New Prague Times, Mike Slavik Painting, Nick Slavik Painting & Restoration, Odenthal Drywall, Paul Hanzel Homes, Pepsi Bottling Group, Project Evergreen/GreenCare for Troops, Protouch Painting, Inc., Queen of Peace Hospital, Dr. Frank & Linda Razidolo, RJF Electric - Krissy and Rob Frerk, Rubble Tile, Scherer Bros. Lumber, Twin City Sears Stores, Sears Holdings Corporation, SPS, Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, Mary Stasney, Stasney Mechanical, Sterling Cross Communications, Stock Building Supply, Tappe Construction, Marc Thomsen, Thomsen Textiles & Interiors, Tupy and Kubes Tree Services, Inc., VFW Auxiliary - New Prague, Viking Electric Supply, Westerman Lumber, Meghan & Steve Yetzer, Zack & Jones - Marla & Dave Zack.
About Rebuilding Together Twin Cities:
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 9,000 homes across the country each year. Locally Rebuilding Together Twin Cities helps low-income homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or have children remain independent and in their homes by assisting with basic infrastructure repairs they can't afford to make or don't have the skills or tools to undertake. They also work to rehabilitate properties that house nonprofit organizations serving the community.
For more info please visit: www.rebuildingtogether-twincities.org.
Rebuilding Together Twin Cities logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4686