Shea Homes' TradePartners'(r) Wins 2008 Project Playhouse(r) Grand Award

IRVINE, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2008) – Builders, architects, specialty contractors, interior designers, landscape designers, suppliers and sponsors totaling more than 300 people cheered as Shea Homes was awarded the 2008 Project Playhouse® Grand Award – Best in Show for TradePartners’® Mystic Lodge. Project Playhouse supporters gathered at Fashion Island for the annual VIP Party which recognized and honored the hundreds of volunteers for their outstanding work on the fantasy playhouses.

Thousands of children and their families have toured HomeAid Orange County’s 17th Annual Project Playhouse, at Fashion Island since it debuted on Sept. 6 giving all the playhouses rave reviews. This year’s builders designed and built elaborate playhouses that broaden the imagination of children of all ages making it a challenging job for the prestigious panel of judges led by Brad Engelland, The Irvine Company and Don Jacobs, JZMK Partners to select award recipients.

In Ed Woerth’s rustic log cabin design for Shea Homes’ TradePartners’® Mystic Lodge children can pretend they are American pioneers, except interior designer, Interior Lifestyles added modern amenities of granite counters, a ceiling fan, an electric fireplace and a flat screen television. Shea’s landscape designer, Land Care Inc. created a miniature campfire with stone ponds and creeks which merited The Secret Garden Award for Best Landscape Design.

Veteran playhouse builder, William Lyon Homes’ Lyon’s Little Greek House, a USC inspired playhouse received four awards including The Grand Award – First Place. W Custom Homes, first time playhouse builder, also received four awards including The Grand Award – Second Place for their eco-friendly playhouse The Wee Green Playhouse.

HomeAid Orange County’s 17th Annual Project Playhouse presented by Bank of America is the nearly twenty year old non-profit organization’s signature fundraiser. The five-week long event raises much needed funds to build housing for homeless families and individuals in Orange County.

“This is a wonderful cause that makes a significant and positive impact on the communities where we live,” stated Heather Stevenson, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes Southern California. “The playhouses that support this cause are truly magical.”

Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is the last day to tour both Project Playhouse villages at Fashion Island. For a $5 donation per person, visitors can view all the playhouse interiors through each playhouse’s Dutch doors. The entire event culminates with a live public auction at Fashion Island on Saturday evening, Oct. 11 beginning at 5:30 p.m. For ticket and bidder information go to www.projectplayhouse.org or call HomeAid Orange County at 949.553.9510.

Complete list of the 2008 Project Playhouse Awards

TradePartners’® Mystic Lodge – Shea Homes
The Grand Award – Best in Show
The Secret Garden Award – Best Landscape Design

Lyon’s Little Greek House – William Lyon Homes
The Grand Award – First Place – Best in Show
The Craftsman Award – TIE – Best Builder/Craftsman
The Kermit Dorius Award – Best Architectural Design
The Mirror Image Award – Most Realistic/Authentic Design

The Wee Green Playhouse – W Custom Homes
The Grand Award – Second Place – Best in Show
The Craftsman Award – TIE – Best Builder/Craftsman
The Imagination Award – Most Creative & Unique
The Roger Seitz Award – Best Modern Design

Ducks Hockey Hideaway – John Laing Homes
The Designer Award – Best Interior Design
The Playful Award – Most Fun & User-Friendly

Americana Del Mar – University of California, Irvine Facilities Management Team
The Rainbow Award – Most Colorful
The Spirit Award – Outstanding Example of Community Involvement

Caribbean Surf Shack – Finton Construction
The Criterion Award – Most Ingenious within the Guidelines

Beachside Cabana – Waterpointe Homes, LLC
The California Award – Best Depiction of Life in California

17th Annual Project Playhouse Panel of Judges

Judging Co-Chairs:
Brad Engelland – The Irvine Company
Don Jacobs – JZMK Partners

Panel:
Ed Akins – Builder/Developer
Lynn Armitage – Editor of OC Family Magazine
Rick Henricksen – Pridemark Contractors
Richard Krantz, AIA, Richard Krantz Architecture
Mark Louvier – Trimco Finish – CALPASC OCIE President
Roger McErlane – The Irvine Company
Brady O’Connell – O’Connell Landscaping
Chris Pronger – Anaheim Ducks
Craig Reem – Carlsson Public Relations
Tim Salmon – Former Major League Baseball Right Fielder – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Nick Slevin – Peninsula Publishing
Russ Van Cleve – Empire Homes

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About HomeAid Orange County
HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the mission to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. Founded in 1989 by the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between service providers, community volunteers, builders and specialty contractors. With two projects currently in development, to date the organization has completed 43 housing developments that serve victims of domestic violence, pregnant homeless women, abused and abandoned children, homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS and homeless families. www.homeaidoc.org