For Immediate Release
March 07, 2014
Contact Information

Bernadette Morris
T: (305) 450-0942
E: bmorris@sonshine.com

(BPRW) VIPs and Volunteers Lend Support for Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Paint and Beautification Day

- Wells Fargo, The Home Depot Foundation donate funding for restoration efforts, set for Saturday, March 8 -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – Community leaders and volunteers will lend a helping hand this Saturday to Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF), in partnership with the Coconut Grove Collaborative, for their annual Community Paint and Beautification Day. For 10 years, NHSSF has coordinated the event every spring to beautify home exteriors for deserving low and moderate income homeowners. This year’s event will provide restoration to the homes of the residents in the Coconut Grove Village West community on March 8, 2014, from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Volunteers will meet in the Coconut Grove Playhouse parking lot, located at 3500 Main Highway, Miami, FL 33133 to receive their assignments. Close to 400 volunteers are expected to participate.

Wells Fargo will be among the corporate supporters on hand and will make a special presentation during the opening ceremony. “We are delighted to support Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida in this initiative to restore this historic neighborhood,” said a Wells Fargo representative. Community leaders attending the event include Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, City of Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and the Rev. Wilifred Allen-Faiella, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Coconut Grove.

One featured resident receiving home restoration is Wesley Truesdell, a 97-year-old World War II veteran. “It would be a good impact on our community because people can’t afford the repainting,” says Truesdell. “My home hasn’t been painted in almost 10 years, and this would mean a lot to me.” He bears the distinction of being one of the very few living World War II veterans in south Florida and the only one alive in Coconut Grove. The Home Depot Foundation has donated $5,500 toward the work being done on his home. “It is a pleasure to work with this organization which has had such a great impact, and is providing assistance to our veterans,” said Valerie Cox, field specialist for The Home Depot Foundation.

About NHSSF: Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida is a local nonprofit organization that collaborates with residents and other stakeholders to stabilize neighborhoods and develop sustainable housing. A chartered member of the NeighborWorks® network, NHSSF is amongst a nationwide network of 245 trained and certified community development organizations at work in more than 4,400 communities across America. NHSSF is a certified Homeownership Center, a HUD approved counseling agency and has adopted the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. NHSSF provides a full spectrum of homeownership services in English and Spanish to assist potential buyers in reaching their homeownership dream and assist current owners to preserve their homes.

Media Note: Media inquiries are to contact Bernadette Morris of Sonshine Communications via cell at 305-450-0942.