Contact:  Carolyn Baker - HomeAid Orange County
(949) 553-9510 – carolyn@homeaidoc.org

HomeAid Orange County will showcase playhouses at Fashion Island in Newport Beach Sept. 8 – Oct. 13

Wahoo’s Xtreme Sports Shack, built by Pulte Homes in partnership with Wahoo’s Fish Taco designed by architect, Urban Arena garnered the Grand Award for Best in Show; the California Award for Best Depiction of California Life; and the Imagination Award for Most Creative & Unique. Interior design provided by Pulte Homes with landscaping donated by Urban Arena.  Project Playhouse presented by the Children & Families Commission of Orange County takes place at Fashion Island from September 8 –October 13, 2007.

Wahoo’s Xtreme Sports Shack was one of 10 playhouses auctioned off as part of HomeAid Orange County’s Project Playhouse™ 2006, the organization’s signature fundraiser that earned a record-breaking $620,000 in proceeds. HomeAid is the philanthropic outreach of the Building Industry Association charged with the mission of building and renovating shelters for the temporarily homeless.

IRVINE, CALIF. – (July 27, 2007)  Local homebuilders will unveil a new housing product this Fall as part of the 16th annual Project Playhouse™, HomeAid Orange County’s signature fundraising event.  HomeAid today announced this year’s playhouse builders who will create miniature mansions and pint-sized surf shacks to raise funds for the non-profit organization that builds and renovates shelters for thousands of Southern California’s temporary homeless children, women and men.

For 16 years, the builder list has filled quickly as construction teams compete to create the most fanciful playhouses.  This year, HomeAid welcomes two first-time playhouse builders: Windstar Communities who is partnering with the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions Anaheim Ducks and the Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA).  Returning builders include: KTGY Group Inc., with Finton Construction; K. Hovnanian Homes in partnership with Aloha Airlines; Pardee Homes in partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshop; Pulte Homes in partnership with Wahoo’s Fish Taco; Shea Homes; Taylor Woodrow Homes in partnership with Bank of America and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Facilities Management Team of the University of California, Irvine and William Lyon Homes. 

“Our team looks forward to Project Playhouse each year,” says Mike Forsum, Western Regional President for Taylor Woodrow Homes.  “It allows us to give back to the community, showcase our creativity and work with terrific partners like our trades and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.”

Builders, along with the county’s leading architectural designers and tradesmen donate their time, expertise and materials to construct these state-of-the-art dream homes. 

Presented by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, Project Playhouse™ will feature 10 unique playhouses, each hand constructed and fully furnished. 

“Our partnership with HomeAid Orange County leverages funds to build shelters and provide services for thousands of families,” says Maria E. Minon, M.D., Chair of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.  “Supporting Project Playhouse ensures HomeAid can continue its vital mission and at the same time accomplish one of the Commission’s goals to strengthen families by providing young children a safe place to live.”

The playhouses will once again be on display at Fashion Island in Newport Beach from September 8 through October 13.  The event is expected to draw more than three million visitors to view and experience the exquisitely designed playhouses in a fantasy village. 

Visitors can enter the opportunity drawing to win two of the playhouses.  The eight other playhouses will be auctioned on Saturday, October 13.  All funds raised, including ticket donations, opportunity drawing and auction proceeds, support HomeAid Orange County’s mission of building or renovating shelters for the temporarily homeless.  For more information, please visit www.projectplayhouse.org.

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Note to Editors:

About HomeAid Orange County
HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of HomeAid America and is dedicated to building and renovating shelters for the transitionally homeless in Orange County, California.  To date the organization has completed over 40 shelters for a wide variety of needs including victims of domestic violence, foster children and HIV positive adults.  HomeAid Orange County’s current projects are Orange County Catholic Worker – Isaiah House, Hope Family Housing and the Village of Hope in partnership with the Orange County Rescue Mission.  The Village of Hope will be the nation’s premiere housing program for the homeless when completed.   www.homeaidoc.org

 About the Children and Families Commission of Orange County
The Children and Families Commission of Orange County allocates funds from Proposition 10 that adds a 50-cent sales tax on tobacco products sold in California for education, health and child development programs for children ages 0 to 5 and their families.  Programs funded include shelter projects for children and families because “children learn better when they have a home.”  For more information, visit www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.