Greenwich, CT -
United Rentals (NYSE:URI) today announced that it has renewed its partnership with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for the 2009-2010 Season 7, with the Connecticut launch of its 46th “Extreme” build this week. The Emmy award-winning television show continues to rely on United Rentals branches across the country for equipment, expertise and volunteers, including the donated use of more than 2,000 pieces of construction equipment.
The latest build benefits the Hill family of Suffield, who opened their door on June 21 to discover that they would receive a new home in just seven days, courtesy of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and hundreds of community volunteers. The United Rentals branch in nearby Ludlow, Mass., organized the delivery of more than 70 pieces of equipment to the site, said Thomas Kennedy, branch manager, who has more than 10 years of experience as a safety trainer to industry groups. “Extreme Makeover has always gone onto a site saying ‘safety first,’ which is our position as well,” he said.
Kennedy continued, “United Rentals is a large company but we take a very local approach to community involvement. If our expertise can help someone else, we want to share it. The excitement has been building with our employees, and we intend to support the construction crews around the clock. We’ve also heard from other United Rentals branches in our area that want to help out any way they can. The Hill family is going to come home to a quality house that they can enjoy for years.”
Christopher Cox, national account manager for United Rentals, noted that the Connecticut build, which was followed just four days later by an Extreme home construction in Pennsylvania, “is no problem for our branch network. With the size of our footprint, we’re able to coordinate with multiple branches to provide equipment and support services on very short notice, just as we would for any large customer. In Suffield, we had equipment on site from as far away as Maine.”
Commenting on renewing the partnership, Michel Kneeland, chief executive officer of United Rentals, said, “We are proud and honored to be the equipment supplier of choice to Extreme Makeover, and to support an exciting concept that has benefitted so many deserving families. These construction projects are incredible examples of the power of community involvement.”
Conrad Ricketts, Extreme Makeover executive producer, who spoke at a United Rentals event earlier this year, told employees, “I want to thank all the great men and women who support this show with their hard work and their hearts. Thank you for joining us in a simple mission, that by helping one, we help us all.”
Diane Korman, Extreme Makeover senior producer, said, "Time after time, United Rentals has shown that we can rely on them for their expertise, equipment and service as we build a home from the ground up in one week. They also share our community focus. United Rentals is an Extreme partner in every respect!”
An online photo gallery documenting the projects can be viewed at www.unitedrentals.com. The episode featuring the Hill family will air on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on a date to be announced.
About United Rentals
United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an integrated network of over 615 rental locations in 48 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company’s approximately 9,400 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers for rent approximately 2,800 classes of equipment with a total original cost of $4.0 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index® and is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.
About ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
The Emmy award winning reality program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” now in its 7th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It’s executive-produced by Anthony Dominici. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on ABC.
Contact:
Elise Arsenault
[email protected]
(203) 618-7117