NEWPORT BEACH, CA (October 17, 2003)

Tommy Bahama's Caribbean Hideaway sponsored by it's namesake is just one of eight fantasy playhouses set to go up for bid at public auction on November 1st. This crowd-pleaser built by Rancho Mission Viejo with Grant Construction is sure to please the child in all of us. For bidding information contact HomeAid Orange County (949) 553-9510 – the Building Industry Association nonprofit organization that builds and renovates shelters for the temporarily homeless residing in Orange County. Project Playhouse proceeds profit HomeAid's shelter development program.

Baseball great, Los Angeles Dodger right fielder, Shawn Green will be on hand for autographs as will Lee Reherman ex-Cornell All-Ivy offensive tackle, MVP and captain, known as the "Hawk" of American Gladiator fame. A frequent sports show host, Reherman can be seen regularly on primetime television shows such as X-files and Gilmore Girls. Reherman, co-hosting for the third consecutive year, will be sharing his special brand of humor with auctioneer Chuck Dreyer as the two give their all to raise money for homeless men, women and children, some 28,000 strong residing in Orange County.

In addition to the family oriented party complete with entertainment and great food, the coveted Grand Prize and People's Choice Awards will be presented as part of the festivities. Eleven other prestigious awards were recently presented at the Project Playhouse VIP Party at Fashion Island where over 250 guests were hosted by HomeAid Orange County as a way of saying thank you for their incredible donations of time and talent.

Determining the winners of this year's Project Playhouse Awards was no easy task, a responsibility that fell to ten distinguished judges who ultimately selected the 2003 recipients listed below. Project Playhouse judges Ed Akins, David Close, Jeff Gill, Shawn & Lindsey Green, Joyce Hanson, David & Linda Mulvaney, Brad Neal, Craig Reem, Steve Scarbough, and Nick Slevin named the following award winners for 2003:

The California Award:
Best Depiction of California Life - My Little Beach Bungalow, by William Lyon Homes

The Craftsman Award:
Best Builder/Craftsman - Seaside Hideaway by Shea Homes

The Criterion Award:
Most Ingenious within the Guidelines - Harvest Farm, by Trimark Pacific Homes

The Designer Award:
Best Interior Design - Wild Bunch Hideout by KTGY Group, Inc. with Tony Valentine Construction and Finton Construction

The Kermit Dorius Award:
Best Architectural Design - Claiborne by Pulte Homes

The Imagination Award:
Most Creative & Unique - HomeTweet Home by Greystone Homes

The Mirror Image Award:
Most Realistic/Authentic Design - Tommy Bahama's Caribbean Hideaway by Rancho Mission Viejo with Grant Construction

The Playful Award:
Most Fun & User Friendly - The Wild Bunch Hideout

The Rainbow Award:
Most Colorful - Home Tweet Home

The Secret Garden Award:
Best Landscape Design - Geppetto's Workshop by Pardee Homes

The Spirit Award:
Outstanding Example of Community Involvement - Damsel in Distress by Team Project Playhouse

The success of Project Playhouse is due in large part to the unsung heroes who provide sponsorship and underwriting for the event including top-level, in-kind media sponsors for Project Playhouse 2003 such as KOCE-TV; Builder & Developer Magazine; Daily Pilot; HomeBuyers Guide; OC Metro/OC Family (Churm Publishing Co.); Orange Coast Magazine; Riviera Magazine; Ravo Media; and the Building Industry Association's publication, Southern California Builder.

Other top sponsors include: Owens Corning HomExperts; Coldwell Banker; Shuster Financial Group, LLC; Bragg Companies; Fashion Island; Orange County Association of Realtors; Shea Homes; BCI Framing & Drywall; Experian; Homebuyers Guide; O'Connell Landscape Maintenance; Countrywide Home Loans, Valley Building Materials, The Irvine Company; Dimension Three; Regal Rents and Manatt/Phelps/Phillips.

In an effort to make the playhouse buying experience an on-going positive one, Owens Corning HomExperts – a first time Project Playhouse contributor – will be providing five years of annual playhouse maintenance. This Owens maintenance program is a new wrinkle for Project Playhouse and will include such things as exterior paint, electrical testing, and weather-stripping.

Those wishing to purchase a playhouse, but are unable to attend the public auction may make special bid submittal arrangements through HomeAid by calling HomeAid Orange County at (949) 553-9510 or by visiting the website at www.projectplayhouse.org. In the past playhouses have been delivered as far away as Idaho, Las Vegas and even Japan.

All Project Playhouse proceeds benefit HomeAid Orange County launched in 1989 by the leadership of the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California. To date, HomeAid Orange County has completed over 34 shelter projects with six in various stages of planning and construction. The temporarily homeless served by HomeAid include women in crisis pregnancy; victims of domestic violence; the mentally challenged; adults living with HIV/AIDS; homeless youths; and those who find themselves homeless as a result of job loss or catastrophic illness.