Contact:  Delene Garbo - HomeAid Orange County
(949) 553-9510 – Delene@homeaidoc.org

Newport Beach, CA (December 20, 2006) -- HomeAid Orange County's signature fundraiser Project Playhouse - held annually in the fall at Fashion Island - has become a much-anticipated community event and a significant source of revenue for HomeAid, the Building Industry Association’s philanthropic arm that builds shelters for Orange County’s homeless.

In addition to providing funds for HomeAid’s shelter development program Project Playhouse reaches beyond the event itself providing an opportunity to generate awareness and education that prompts both individual and corporate support throughout the year.

Case in point is exemplified by the recent gesture of the 2006 Project Playhouse Opportunity Prize winners Susan and Nick Franklin - whose generosity spread beyond benefiting HomeAid when the couple decided to ‘pay it forward’ by donating their winnings to the Orangewood Children’s Home, a HomeAid care provider partner.

Located in the City of Orange, Orangewood is the county’s only emergency shelter for neglected and sexually, physically or emotionally abused children. The home provides care and service each year to approximately 2,700 children that have been removed from their caretakers by police officers or child protective services workers and placed temporarily at Orangewood. Sadly, many of those now making Orangewood their home have experienced the most serious forms of physical and sexual abuse.

In an effort to make these kids feel as at home as possible, Orangewood provides a wide variety of play and learning opportunities for its residents. The facilities include a fully equipped gymnasium, softball field, basketball courts, game room, pool, toddler pool, and now – thanks to the generosity of the Franklins - the new addition of a sports-themed playhouse where the children can while away hours in imaginative play.

HomeAid is grateful to its supporters and congratulates Susan and Nick Franklin for their generous outpouring. For information call (949) 553-9510 or www.projectplayhouse.org.

Playhouse installation day was cause for celebration for all including a classroom of children that could barely keep their seats as they watched in anticipation when a gigantic crane lowered their playhouse next to the existing baseball field.