NEWPORT BEACH, CA (September 22, 2004)

HomeAid's Project Playhouse 2004 Opportunity Prize, the Bayou Boot Company was built by KTGY Group, Inc. with Tony Valentine Construction.

Presented by the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, Project Playhouse open now through October 23rd promises to be a great time for the entire family. As part of the activities, HomeAid is presenting an Opportunity House that some lucky ticket holder will have a chance to win at a drawing held at the October 23rd public Auction Party. This year's Opportunity Prize is Bayou Boot Company, a whimsical oversized leather boot complete with a 10-foot tongue slide, built by KTGY Group, Inc. with Tony Valentine Construction. Tickets are available for $2 each at the Fashion Island concierge and at HomeAid Orange County, contact HomeAid Orange County at (949) 553-9510 or visit www.projectplayhouse.org.

Weekend Village Tours are open on weekends only from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is a $5 donation.

This year's Auction Party presented by State Street Corporation takes on a tropical theme complete with fire dancers, a Polynesian dance show, and Hawaiian cuisine including beverages sponsored by Andersen Window and Door. As an added treat, long time HomeAid supporter and baseball great, Shawn Green is scheduled to be on hand to autograph baseballs. Other top Project Playhouse 2004 sponsors include:

Playhouse entries and subsequent awards were determined by this year's judges, Ed Akins, builder/developer; Thomas Blurock, AIA with Thomas Blurock Architects, Kevin Fleming, AIA with Thomas Blurock Architects; David Close, Pacific Design Estates; baseball-great Shawn Green and his wife, Lindsey; Joyce Hanson, Commissioner Children and Families Commission of Orange County; Brad Neal, The Irvine Company; Tom Redwitz, group president Laing Luxury Homes; Craig Reem, Churm Publishing, Inc.; and Nick Slevin, publisher Builder & Developer Magazine. Awards will be handed out at the Project Playhouse VIP Party to be held at Fashion Island on October 7th.

The continued support from Southern California's top builders and their trade partners has catapulted Project Playhouse (celebrating its 13th year) into one of Orange County's premier events. Drawing more than three million visitors from all over the world, last year's Project Playhouse – thanks to all those committed companies and individuals' involved – garnered proceeds in excess of $370,000.

Just north of Orange County, HomeAid Los Angeles/Ventura is presenting a separate and exciting Project Playhouse event now through October 17th with 10 playhouses on display at dual venues; the Oaks Shopping Center, Thousand Oaks and Valencia Town Center, Valencia both presented from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Los Angeles/Ventura playhouses go up for bid October 17th at the House of Blues on Sunset Strip in Hollywood. For information on the Los Angeles event, please call (818) 874-9852 or visit www.projectplayhouse.com.

Those homeless individuals and families served through HomeAid include victims of domestic violence; families and individuals made homeless by job loss or catastrophic illness; women in crisis pregnancy; abandoned or neglected youth; and the mentally disabled. To date, Project Playhouse has raised more than $3 million to help those in need.