(Tampa – January 19, 2009) On January 30, 1,500 volunteers from more than fifty corporations and organizations will make up an army of volunteers who will bring about needed repairs to 20 homes in Historic Old West Tampa. The event will focus on repairing these homes, making them safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. Historic Old West Tampa is a hive of activity. Repairs are already underway in several of the homes ranging from exterior landscaping to the complete demolition and rebuild of a new home. All repairs will be free to the homeowners.

Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading non-profit organization preserving affordable homeownership, will celebrate the 14th Annual Kickoff to Rebuild, an NFL-sanctioned event for Super Bowl, on January 30, 2009. This block party project will be a day of rehabilitation and renewal for local homeowners who do not have the means or ability to make the repairs themselves.

The Project Zone consists of Union, Chestnut, Spruce, Walnut and Pine Streets between and adjacent to Howard and Armenia Avenues; also known as the former central business district of Historic Old West Tampa. Several NFL players, state and local officials will join Rebuilding Together and volunteers for this project.

“This is a significant revitalization project for this community. Drive here on any day and you’ll see the transformation in process; crews are everywhere making this dream come true for West Tampa residents.” stated Jose Garcia, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay.

Henry Castillo who runs Castillo’s Café with his twin brother Raul, has witnessed the transformation on a daily basis. “This year started off good for us and we’ve seen a lot of new faces in our restaurant lately. Everyone that comes in to our place talks about how good this is for the community. It’s been good for business too,” stated Henry Castillo.

The City of Tampa Clean City Division Rocks West Tampa – The Clean City Division has cleaned up several vacant lots throughout the neighborhood. With permission from property owners, city crews have transformed abandoned and littered lots into park-like areas. “People driving by stop to ask me if they are putting in a new park – that’s how great this place looks,” stated Olga Gonzalez, Project Developer for Rebuilding Together.

Kickoff to Rebuild also includes traffic flow improvements and the beautification of Howard and Armenia Avenues between I-275 and Columbus that the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce will bring about.

Why West Tampa?

Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay has strong ties with West Tampa. In 2001, when Tampa last hosted a Super Bowl, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay was born. For that year, the young organization repaired three homes. Seven years later, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay has grown significantly and is proud to continue its work helping needy Bay Area families. Join us as Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay returns to its roots to celebrate Kickoff to Rebuild 2009 with the repair of 20 homes in Historic Old West Tampa.

For more information about Kickoff to Rebuild or interview the homeowners whose homes will be repaired, please contact Olga Gonzalez at 813-842-4306 or via email at ogonzalez@rttb.org.