WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, is officially kicking off the annual NFL-sanctioned event, Kickoff to Rebuild, with a playground pre-build. With the help of local volunteers, sponsors and the NFL community, Kickoff to Rebuild occurs in the host city of the Super Bowl and improves the surrounding community through extensive home rehabilitations.

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

Kickoff to Rebuild's pre-build will take place in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Near Eastside, and will help dozens of homeowners-in-need with critical home repairs needed for the winter months. Lowe's, Kickoff to Rebuild's title sponsor, will recruit local volunteers to renovate and prepare the homes for winter.

For the past 17 years, Rebuilding Together has worked with the NFL community to engage volunteers, sponsors and NFL players to revitalize communities.

In addition, HGTV television host Carter Oosterhouse and his foundation, Carter's Kids, will work with Lowe's employees to build a new playground for the children of Near Eastside during the months of Kickoff to Rebuild. Carter's Kids and Lowe's have committed to build six playgrounds promoting the health and welfare of children in low-income communities.

"Kickoff to Rebuild is a hallmark event of Rebuilding Together's work," said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "It engages volunteers, sponsors and neighbors to collaborate and create a lasting impact through home renovations, a new recreational facility for the community, which develops sustainable effects for the community."

During the pre-build, Lowe's volunteers will work together with Carter's Kids and Rebuilding Together to install the new playground in the Near Eastside neighborhood of Indianapolis, during the week of the Super Bowl. Lowe's volunteers will complete extensive renovations including: painting the exteriors, replacing appliances, installing new flooring, upgrading electrical and HVAC systems, landscaping, and other repairs and improvements geared towards making the homes safer and more energy efficient.

"Lowe's is committed to helping build strong foundations for the children who will be tomorrow's employees, homeowners and community leaders," said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Providing volunteers and funding will help improve and preserve affordable homeownership, as well as, revitalize communities. This is both an investment in our future leaders and in the communities Lowe's calls home."

To learn more about Kickoff to Rebuild, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org

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. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.

About Lowe's

Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity  and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together