Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together Help Orlando Hurricane Victim Return Home after Eight Years with Support from CBRE

News provided by

Oct 18, 2012, 06:00 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grip-Rite® is working with Rebuilding Together to repair the hurricane-damaged home of an Orlando resident with support from employees in CBRE's Orlando office.

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

Local resident Linda Lipofsky's home was severely damaged by the 2004 Hurricanes Frances and Charley. She's been trying to move back ever since. A victim of contractor insurance fraud, the retired teacher and grandmother exhausted what was left of her savings, leaving her unable to complete the repairs necessary to move back into her damaged home.

But Ms. Lipofsky's luck is about to change.

On October 25, 2012, Rebuilding Together, Rebuilding Together Orlando, Grip-Rite and volunteers from CBRE's Orlando office will transform Ms. Lipofsky's uninhabitable house back into a home, giving back to her what two hurricanes, eight years, and an unscrupulous contractor had taken away.

"Grip-Rite has a long history of being there to get the job done, to help build and rebuild America's homes and communities," said Ken Fishbein, Co-CEO of PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., distributor of Grip-Rite products. "As part of that commitment we are happy to help Ms. Lipofsky get back on her feet by contributing to the rebuild and providing her with a safe home."

Grip-Rite's contribution of resources, tools, and materials will replace improperly installed siding, eaves, and other exterior fixtures, sealing the home against weather and future storms. Working bathrooms are being installed and the bare concrete slab will be covered with new flooring.

CBRE, through their national CBRE Cares Shelter Program, BuildMonth 2012, will join Grip-Rite in the effort, providing volunteers and additional resources to rebuild Ms. Lipofsky's kitchen, currently an empty room with exposed plumbing protruding from the wall.

"Giving back to our communities has always been a priority for CBRE and its professionals. We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together to provide Ms. Lipofsky with some much needed assistance and support," said Bill Moss, CBRE Senior Managing Director in the Orlando office. "We firmly believe that, through hard work, we can all make our communities better. That is why the success of our Shelter Program, now in its third year, would not be possible without the efforts and dedication of our staff, professionals and community partners."

Ms. Lipofsky is both relieved and overwhelmed with the efforts to move her back into her home after such a long struggle.

"Everything I'd worked for my whole life was lost," said Ms. Lipofsky. "I'd tried everything I could think of, every organization I could find, I even got a local TV station involved. Then I saw Rebuilding Together on HGTV, wrote them a letter, and now all these wonderful people are rebuilding my home. I can leave it to my daughter and grandson now. I can hardly believe all this."

"Before" photos and additional background information on Flickr here: http://bit.ly/QJsFFR

About PrimeSource
With 42 distribution centers throughout the US and Canada and more than 1,100 employees, PrimeSource Building Products, Inc. is an international distributor of building materials serving residential and industrial new-construction and remodeling markets as a value-added link in the distribution chain. Core products distributed under the nationally known Grip-Rite® and Pro-Twist® brands include: Nails, screws, and collated fasteners; tools, compressors and accessories; roofing, gypsum and insulation accessories; diamond blades, bits and accessories; rebar and concrete accessories; fencing and wire; and many other building products and accessories. For more information please visit www.primesourcebp.com or call (800) 676-7777.

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world's largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2011 revenue). The Company has approximately 34,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our Web site at www.cbre.com.

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together believes that everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our 200 local affiliates complete 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of nearly 200,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together