Rebuilding Together, a leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership, honored The American Petroleum Institute (API) with the Patty R. Johnson Community Builder Award for 2008. The award was presented at the Rebuilding Together National Conference in Minneapolis. The prestigious award, approved by Rebuilding Together's Board of Directors, is presented to the individual or corporation that best exemplifies dedicated service and leadership to communities in need.

"Too many of us take for granted a home that protects our families from the elements, from extreme heat in the summer to freezing temperatures in the winter," said Jack Gerard, API's president and CEO. "Rebuilding Together reminds us that there are way too many low-income families for whom such a home remains a dream. More important, Rebuilding Together offers a way for us to help make that dream a reality by becoming involved in making homes more livable for thousands of Americans across the country each year."

For more than 10 years, API has been an integral partner in the success of Rebuilding Together. API's partnership helped create the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative, which has helped more than 200 families lower their utility costs and remain safe, warm and dry in their homes since API became the founding sponsor in 2006. The Initiative, part of the Green Housing Initiative, reduces monthly energy use by installing more efficient appliances and windows, and better insulating homes.

"API takes pride in the fact that our partnership with Rebuilding Together, through the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative, has truly made a difference in the lives of many people," added Gerard. "API and its member companies are honored to accept this award."

In addition to the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative, over the past 10 years API and its member companies have committed more than $7.5 million to Rebuilding Together and its affiliates. API was also the title sponsor of the 2008 Kickoff to Rebuild event at Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, and will be a sponsor in 2009 at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.

"API's continued support helps the leaders and volunteers of Rebuilding Together to achieve widespread assistance for homeowners in need of repairs and more energy efficient home measures," said Rebuilding Together President and CEO, Gary A. Officer.

Rebuilding Together provides home repair and renovation services free of charge to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses and the hands-on work of over 200,000 volunteers, Rebuilding Together renovates and repairs nearly 10,000 homes and nonprofit facilities annually with a market value of nearly $100 million. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together renovates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on elder home safety, energy efficiency, veterans housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction.

Rebuilding Together has over 200 affiliates and recently celebrated the completion of its 100,000th project.

Published: December 3, 2008

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Peter L. Mosca is president and founder of BAK Communications, Inc. He has over 22 years of communications and media consulting experience, serving a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the CCIM Institute and the REALTOR Association on all three levels – national, state and local. He is the Spokesperson Trainer for the CCIM's Jay Levine Academy and trains hundreds of residential REALTORS nationwide to be effective industry spokespeople. He is consistently ranked as "excellent" by about 90% of those who attend his presentations. While his principal consulting focuses are public speaking and media relations development and content delivery and management, Peter is also the host of the Voice America Network's weekly radio program, "Income Property Investment Talk," a one-hour program that brings the powerhouses of commercial and residential real estate to property investors every Wednesday at 11 a.m. EST. Peter is married 17 years to his wife Barbara. They have two children: Ashley, 15 and Kelli, 12. Hence, the name BAK Communications, Inc.