Grand Opening of Environmentally Focused Hope Manor Apartments Celebrates Supportive Housing for America’s Military

(3BL Media) Chicago, IL – May 24, 2012 – Volunteers of America of Illinois, CBS EcoMedia Inc. (“EcoMedia”) and Energizer celebrated the grand opening today of the eco-minded Hope Manor Apartments, a supportive housing development that will provide housing and intensive services to more than 80 veterans a year who are struggling with the transition to civilian life and are dealing with homelessness, unemployment, mental health challenges or addiction.

Attending the event were Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., Ward 27; Volunteers of America of Illinois President and CEO Nancy Hughes Moyer; Volunteers of America of Illinois Board Chair Karen Martin; Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development, Volunteers of America, Inc., Patrick Sheridan; Illinois Housing Development Authority Executive Director Mary R. Kenney; Chicago Housing Authority Director of Communications Wendy Parks; and Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder, CBS EcoMedia Inc. Also joining the festivities were Michael Anaya, Medical Center Director for the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center; Levi Moore, Executive Director, National Veterans Art Museum; and Linda Van Heule and Ed Berry of CBS Interactive.

Hope Manor Apartments is one of the first large-scale supportive housing developments specifically designed for veterans in the City of Chicago that combines Low Income Housing Tax Credits with funding from the City of Chicago and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  The new facility is also now the home of the first National Veterans Art Museum satellite art gallery in Chicago.

“Volunteers of America of Illinois’s partnership with EcoMedia supports two of our critical objectives as a human service provider: 1) To bring cutting-edge solutions to tough problems and 2) to be a responsible global citizen in everything we do by investing in sustainability and environmentally responsible choices,” said Nancy Hughes Moyer, President and CEO of Volunteers of America of Illinois.  “We are so grateful to EcoMedia for their trailblazing efforts to bring corporations and nonprofits together in such exciting new ways to accomplish big things. EcoMedia’s innovative business model created a wonderful relationship between Energizer and Volunteers of America of Illinois. That relationship funded a solar thermal hot water system for Hope Manor Apartments which will yield greater savings in operating costs for years to come, which can then be reinvested in supportive services for the veterans who call Hope Manor home.”   

One of the goals of building Hope Manor is to be environmentally responsible and environmentally conscious with the use of recycled materials and Energy Star-rated efficient lighting and systems, including the solar thermal hot water system, which not only saves energy but will also save approximately $5,000 per year in energy costs. The solar thermal panels can operate year-round and are expected to offset 65 to 70% of the annual domestic hot water needs.

 “Our mission at EcoMedia is to improve the quality of life in communities across the nation,” explained Paul Polizzotto, EcoMedia Founder and President. “It is particularly gratifying to be able to support our military veterans, who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. The Hope Manor project is a perfect example of the public-private partnership model which is at the core of our advertising programs. The new solar thermal hot water system funded by Energizer’s EcoAd media buy not only has environmental benefits, but will also result in lower energy and water costs which will free up critical dollars that can be redirected into essential services for our veterans. Job creation, reduced energy costs, and environmental and quality of life improvements – these are the tangible results of our EcoAd Program.” 

Thousands of online voters visited CBS.com to cast their vote in favor of Hope Manor receiving Energizer’s financial support in the EcoAd Positivity contest. The contest, which was held in late 2011, was part of a CBS Interactive ad buy.  The EcoAd program provides advertisers like Energizer with the opportunity to purchase “socially responsible media” that commits the sponsor to providing financial support to environmental sustainability and renewable energy projects which have been identified by local municipalities and public entities as being critical, yet under-funded.

“Energizer is proud to support the opening of the Hope Manor Apartments, particularly since this project gives us an opportunity to support our military veterans in a way that is beneficial for our environment,” said Michelle Atkinson, Vice President of Marketing for Energizer North America. “These efforts build on the Energizer philosophy – that’s positivenergy – which combines a commitment to performance in products and responsibility in partnerships and programs that make a positive impact on the world.”

About Energizer

Energizer Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is a consumer goods company operating globally in the broad categories of personal care and household products. Energizer's Personal Care Division offers a diversified range of consumer products in the wet shave, skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. Our portfolio includes well-established brand names such as Schick® and Wilkinson Sword® men's and women's shaving systems and disposables; Edge® and Skintimate® shave preparations; Playtex® tampons, gloves and infant feeding products; Banana Boat® and Hawaiian Tropic® sun care products and Wet Ones® moist wipes. Energizer's Household Products Division offers consumers the broadest range of portable power solutions, anchored by our universally recognized Energizer® and Eveready® brands.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia, we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media. 

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide.  In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.  Please visit ecomediacbs.com to learn more. 

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services. 

About Volunteers of America of Illinois

Volunteers of America of Illinois is one of the oldest affiliates within the VOA national ministry of service, and for more than 111 years has met the critical needs of children and families in Illinois through a variety of services designed to strengthen families, promote safety and well-being in children and empower individuals to transform their lives. Each year, VOA of IL serves more than 1,000 individuals through a broad range of strength-based, family-focused child welfare services, permanent supportive housing programs and supportive services for homeless veterans. At VOA of IL, we do not treat problems, we transform lives. Transformation through empowerment is the cornerstone of the VOA of IL service philosophy and is particularly important when working with individuals who need and want to take responsibility for changing their own lives. Our programs offer people the resources and opportunities to rebuild their lives from the inside out. We seek to empower the whole person.

Janice Sakamoto, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs

310.374.8212

Janice.sakamoto@ecomediacbs.com