Tradition Hilton Head Contributes $94,000

Tradition Hilton Head Contributes $94,000 to United Way of the Lowcountry from HGTV Green Home Tours Proceeds  

Donation Given During Free Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Concert and Final Day of Public Tours of green home at Tradition on Sunday.

Hardeeville, SC (May 28, 2008) – Tradition Hilton Head contributed $94,000 to the United Way of the Lowcountry from proceeds collected during public tours of HGTV’s Green Home here.

Nearly 10,000 people toured the HGTV Green Home at Tradition Hilton Head from March 24 through May 18. Approximately 400 United Way of the Lowcountry agency volunteers conducted the tours. HGTV is giving away the home, and people entered to win online through May 9. The winner will be announced during an HGTV special June 8 at 8 p.m.

On hand for the $94,000 contribution at May 18’s Tommy Dorsey Orchestra concert, which drew approximately 3,000 people, were Clarece Walker, president and CEO of United Way of the Lowcountry; Jack Alderman, chairman of the United Way board of directors; board director Robert Halfacre; Jill Briggs, United Way executive vice president; David Page, president of Tradition Hilton Head; and Martin Sauls IV, public relations director for Tradition.

Walker said Tradition Hilton Head’s contribution is an excellent example of the business community support of United Way’s efforts to improve the lives of others.

“We are very grateful to Core Communities, Tradition Hilton Head and HGTV for providing this amazing opportunity for us to partner with them to help those in need in Beaufort and Jasper Counties,” Walker said.

“On behalf of United Way of the Lowcountry board of directors, partner agencies, volunteers, contributors, staff and most of all for those people who will receive help and hope from the generous $94,000 contribution, we applaud Tradition Hilton Head’s generous community spirit,” she said. “Because of their commitment to the community, the 39 agencies funded by United Way will receive much needed funds to continue the great work they do everyday.”

Tradition Hilton Head, a 5,300-acre master-planned, mixed-use and sustainable community, is being developed by Core Communities, the award-winning developer of St. Lucie West, Fla., and Tradition Florida.

Page applauded the United Way’s work in the community and its agency volunteers who worked on the HGTV Green Home public tours.

“The United Way volunteers made the green home tours a great experience for people visiting the home,” he said. “They were knowledgeable, hard-working and courteous. We appreciate their taking part in the home tours.”

Jack Alderman, chairman of United Way of the Lowcountry, thanked Tradition Hilton Head “for involving the United Way in the HGTV Green Home tours. It meant a lot to us, and the contribution to United Way is sincerely appreciated.”

Page said Tradition Hilton Head’s partnership with the United Way on the HGTV Green Home tours was a perfect fit.

“The United Way, like Tradition Hilton Head, is committed to nurturing healthy communities,” Page said. “We are dedicated to make Tradition Hilton Head a sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially healthy community.”

He said Tradition Hilton Head’s involvement with the HGTV Green Home helped showcase the development’s commitment to the environment, and that being a green community is the “willingness to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the surrounding region. That’s why the United Way is such a deserving charity to be involved with.”

Page noted that HGTV chose Tradition Hilton Head for its first green home over hundreds of other communities.

“HGTV could have chosen any community in the country for its green home, but they chose Tradition Hilton Head because of our commitment to environmental stewardship,” Page said. “Core Communities places great importance on protecting the natural environment in the communities we develop. Our new leadership in ‘green design’ is just part of the responsible way we choose to conduct business.”

Alderman said he is proud to be associated with a conscientious developer like Core Communities.

“Core Communities is widely recognized for its sustainable, eco-friendly and healthy communities,” Alderman said.

Tradition Hilton Head also features a “Green Preview Center” which serves to educate visitors about the significance of building green homes, developing green communities and making existing homes greener    

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Core Communities -- Core Communities is the award-winning developer of the St. Lucie West and Tradition communities in Florida and South Carolina. Core Communities’ mission is to create and develop master-planned, mixed use, total-living community environments throughout the Southeastern United States.  Core Communities is located at Tradition Station, 10521 S.W. Village Center Drive, Suite 201, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987.  Visit Core Communities on the Internet at http://www.corecommunities.com.

Tradition Hilton Head -- Located in between historic Savannah, GA and the resort community of Hilton Head Island, SC in the city of Hardeeville, Tradition Hilton Head is a 5,300-acre master-planned, mixed-use community unlike any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Developed by Core Communities, it is considered a “sustainable community” providing the convenience and rewards of a total town living environment, featuring a variety of neighborhoods and housing styles, shopping and dining in charming Village Square, a luxurious Fitness Center & Spa and the Tommy Fazio-designed Tradition National Golf Course.  Tradition Hilton Head is located at 3171 Independence Boulevard, Hardeeville, SC 29927.  For more information, call (866) 459-1422 or visit www.TraditionHiltonHead.com.

United Way of the Lowcountry -- United Way of the Lowcountry focuses exclusively on priority issues in Beaufort and Jasper counties: literacy, good health, adequate nutrition, safe shelter and poverty reduction. The organization funds 39 agencies that provide a wide variety of services, including emergency assistance and shelter, training for the mentally and physically disabled, nutritious meals for the elderly, shelter for abused women and children, and character-building programs for youth, and other programs that make a measurable impact in Beaufort and Jasper counties.

The United Way Community Investment process is a signature program that does not occur any place else. All agency applicants, whether based in Beaufort or Jasper County, must participate in the Community Investment review process to receive United Way of the Lowcountry funding. Agencies are required to measure the impact of their programs on the lives of their clients in both the short and long term. For more details visit the website: www.uwlowcountry.org

HGTV -- HGTV is one of cable television’s top-rated networks, distributed to more than 95 million U.S. households. HGTV’s website, HGTV.com, is the nation’s leading online home and garden destination which attracts an average of 5.4 million unique visitors per month.  

Media Contacts:

Martin Sauls IV/ Public Relations Director/ Tradition Hilton Head

(843) 208-5300