United Rentals Renews Partnership with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
United Rentals has renewed its partnership with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for the 2009-2010 Season 7, with the 46th extreme build launched in Connecticut at the end of June. The Emmy award-winning television show continues to rely on United Rentals branches across the United States 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, Conn., who learned on June 21 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.
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, United Rentals CEO 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.”
To view an online photo gallery documenting the projects visit www.unitedrentals.com. The episode featuring the Hill family will air on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on a date to be announced.
Greenwich, Conn.-based United Rentals is No. 1 on the RER 100 with an integrated network of more than 615 rental locations in 48 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico.
