Pella® partnership improves Washington, D.C. and Baltimore neighborhoods
— Rebuilding Together’s Anacostia and Penn Lucy projects to be featured on HGTV —
PELLA, Iowa — April 23, 2008 — The walls haven’t felt the tickle of a paintbrush since the 1980s. Rainwater seeps down the surfaces after strong storms. At times you can still feel a breeze even when the windows are closed. The home is one of many in a treasured Washington, D.C. neighborhood that will be featured on Home and Garden Television’s (HGTV) “Change the World. Start at Home” special. In conjunction with various non-profit organizations, the Change the World project focuses on revitalizing communities across the country.
In the spirit of “National Rebuilding Day” on April 26th, this week marks the beginning of major renovations in D.C.’s Anacostia Historic neighborhood. The K.C. Company team of local Pella representatives, plus hundreds of other volunteers will help homeowners renovate ten homes on S Street, improve the Bethel Christian Child Development Center and clean up Anacostia Park. The HGTV crew will descend upon S Street April 28th – 29th to film the renovations.
“We’re pleased to partner with Rebuilding Together and HGTV to volunteer and restore the proud Anacostia and Penn Lucy districts to their grandeur,” said Mary Ellen Thieroff, director of marketing, Pella Windows & Doors, K.C. Company. “The Pella windows donated by Pella Corporation of Pella, Iowa, and installed by our local professionals will enhance the look and comfort of the homes and community center and help make them ‘greener’ for the environment through greater energy efficiency.”
Pella team lifts D.C. spirits with new windows
Donating new windows for two homes on S Street, Pella Corporation recognized the opportunity to help families in need and preserve the pride in an historic neighborhood. The area sports turn-of-the century, wood-frame houses and is also known as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
To help one Washington, D.C. homeowner suffering from severe asthma whose home was selected for renovation, Pella experts will install Designer Series® wood windows – featuring the popular blinds between panes of glass which can reduce certain indoor airborne allergens by 200 times compared with traditional window blinds, enhancing indoor air quality.*
Pella will also provide its durable, energy-efficient Pella Impervia® windows for another home renovation. Named one of the best new products of 2007 by Architectural Record, Pella Impervia fiberglass composite windows and patio doors can withstand the forces of Mother Nature without cracking, crumbling, caving or warping in extreme weather conditions and to meet the demands of today’s busy families.**
Baltimore Mediation Center to undergo facelift
Baltimore’s Penn Lucy neighborhood will also be featured on HGTV project. The 1920 Art Deco Community Mediation Center located in the historic Waverly Main Street shopping area will receive a major facelift. At the community center, volunteers train to become mediators, facilitating residential conflicts ranging from custody disputes to neighborhood issues. Pella will install its Architect Series® wood windows and doors to maintain the historical design that makes the neighborhood unique.
“Community leaders identified the community center as having the greatest need for window and door upgrades,” said Thieroff. “The current glass block windows are no longer practical, especially with rapidly rising utility costs. Therefore, the new Pella Architect Series windows and doors will enhance the energy efficiency and overall look and pride in this valuable community resource. ”
Leading the charge to maintain both districts is the local chapter of the non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together™. Their mission is to preserve affordable housing by bringing volunteers and local businesses together to renovate the homes of low-income homeowners. The elevated awareness of both neighborhoods caught the attention of HGTV’s “Change the World. Start at Home” project, which awarded them neighborhood revitalization packages after receiving online votes from viewers.
About HGTV’s “Change the World. Start at Home”
Change the World. Start at Home is a community revitalization and environmental cause effort launched by HGTV in partnership with Rebuilding Together, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The campaign focuses on revitalizing communities across the country and helping consumers make smart choices for the environment within their homes and daily lives.
About Pella
Pella Corporation is a leader in designing, testing, manufacturing and installing quality windows and doors for new construction, remodeling and replacement applications. Pella earned the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for windows in 2007and 2008 for its leadership in manufacturing energy-efficient windows and educating consumers about them. Pella also earned the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Window and Door Manufacturers.”
As a family-owned and professionally managed privately-held company, Pella is known for its 83-year history of innovation, making great products, providing quality service and delivering on customer satisfaction. Headquartered in Pella, Iowa, the company is committed to incorporating new technologies, increasing productivity, and practicing environmental stewardship to create satisfied customers. Providing careers for about 9,800 team members, Pella is recognized as the “Global Top Company for Leaders” in the small-to mid-sized category by FORTUNE magazine.
* Based on data from research conducted by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa.
**In accordance with ASTM testing standards, Pella’s Duracast® displayed superior performance in strength, ability to withstand extreme heat and cold, and resistance to dents and scratches.