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91����Ƶ Charities Inc.’s Annual Operation Opening Doors Project Involved Contractors from Across the Country who Donated Time, Materials & Money to Cut Lumber and Assemble Walls for a New House

COLUMBUS, OHIO – 91����Ƶ Charities Inc., Kokosing and United Rentals teamed up to lead dozens of volunteers from across the country to assemble all the walls for a new house being built by Habitat for Humanity Delaware and Union Counties. The volunteer workday at Kokosing’s campus in Westerville involved cutting wood and assembling the various pieces into prefabricated walls that will be erected on land own by Habitat for Humanity for a deserving family.

“The volunteers were there because they enjoy the experience, but they also understand how important it is to give back to our communities,” said Lainee Perala, the chair of 91����Ƶ Charities Inc. “In exchange for a day of hard work and good companionship, we are helping make a dream come true for one local family.”

The volunteers who participated in today’s charity project are all members of the Associated General Contractors of America, the national commercial construction trade association. Many of the volunteers arrived early into the area to participate in the project prior to attending the association’s annual convention, which is taking place at the Columbus Convention Center between April 8 and 10.

Much of the work and donated supplies were arranged by Westerville-based Kokosing with the help of United Rentals and 91����Ƶ Charities Inc. In addition to building the walls for the house, the group donated all the required lumber for the new house and provided additional funds to Habitat for Humanity to help with the final assembly of the house.

The volunteers divided into teams and spent the day working on assembling all the exterior and interior walls for the house. They worked side-by-side with the family who will live in the house, as well as the team from Habitat for Humanity Delaware and Union Counties, United Rentals and Kokosing.

“One of the great things about a project like this is you get to spend the better part of a day working side-by-side with colleagues and competitors from across the country on something that is as fun as it is worthwhile,” said Brian Burgett, Chairman of Kokosing. “Just because our day-jobs may be tough doesn’t mean we don’t have soft hearts when it comes to giving back to our communities.”

Funding for the project came from donations by individual members of the Associated General Contractors of America, as well as support from United Rentals and Kokosing. 91����Ƶ Charities is the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, the national association for the construction industry.

“United Rentals is proud to partner up with Kokosing and 91����Ƶ Charities Inc., to spend the day volunteering in communities representing an amazing cause that brings families one step closer to their dreams all while teambuilding and having fun. We couldn’t be happier to be part of this special day.” Craig Schmidt, senior vice president of national accounts, United Rentals.

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