A "Heroes at Home" Veteran Receives Help

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Sep 22, 2011, 06:30 ET

Rebuilding Together and Sears' Heroes at Home program assists veteran with critical needs

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, is working with Sears and Samsung Hope for Children on a Heroes at Home project, serving an Iraq War veteran. Heroes at Home projects serve the nation's military members and families by addressing their critical housing needs.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090421/REBUILDINGLOGO)

Danielle, a 34-year-old Iraqi war veteran, suffered serious injuries while serving in Baghdad. She was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that severely injured her left side, damaging her leg and resulting in the amputation of her left arm. A graduate of Notre Dame University on a basketball scholarship before joining the army, Danielle returned home to obtain two master's degrees and currently works helping other combat veterans who suffer from mental illness.

Dozens of Sears, Samsung and local volunteers will complete critical home upgrades in a Heroes at Home project, creating safety and independent mobility to ensure the home meets veteran Danielle's needs. Construction includes handicap-accessible upgrades, a new doorway, attic and stabilization of the rear porch, along with necessary updates to help improve her living space. In addition to Sears' cash donation for the rebuild, Samsung will donate new appliances and electronics. The Samsung contribution is part of its Hope for Children program, which represents the company's ongoing philanthropic commitment to help children live smarter, healthier and more sustainable lives.

These services and products, at no cost to Danielle, will allow her to live independently and safely.

"Danielle is a perfect paradigm of the veterans that we serve through Heroes at Home; she has been a selfless public servant who now needs our help in order to sustain a healthy and productive lifestyle," said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "Heroes at Home serves those who oftentimes fall under the nation's radar, and are unable to find assistance to meet their needs, usually due to injuries sustained while serving our country. We are thrilled to be helping Danielle so she can continue to assist her fellow veterans struggling upon their return."

Heroes at Home is a part of a on-going relationship between Sears and Rebuilding Together, which aims to improve American military families' lives by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes. Sears has raised more than $15.3 million and provided over 5,000 volunteers for these projects.

About Rebuilding Together: Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

About Sears Holdings Corporation: Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.

About Samsung Hope for Children
Samsung is dedicated to creating products that inspire passion and enable people to live Smarter Lives. Samsung Hope for Children represents the company's philanthropic commitment in the U.S. to help improve children's health, education and sustainability. Over the past 10 years, Samsung Electronics America and its retail and business partners have helped more than 400 schools, community-based foundations and charities throughout the U.S. raise awareness of and funding for their causes. For more information please visit www.samsung.com/hope.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together