Country music group Rascal Flatts to receive humanitarian award and KaBOOM!/The Home Depot playground in city of their choice

ENCINO, Calif. (April 17, 2008) – The Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot announced today that multi-platinum country music group Rascal Flatts will be the 2008 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards ceremony honoring country music’s best and hottest emerging talent. The show will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

In its seventh year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. The members of Rascal Flatts – Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney – were selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders for their ongoing community service and charitable giving of their time and talent.

“We have been blessed with some incredible successes in our career the past couple of years,” said Rooney. “The most rewarding thing for us is the opportunity to give back to our communities. We’d like to thank The Home Depot and the Academy for recognizing us in such a humbling way.”

As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Rascal Flatts will receive a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. They will also be honored with a playground donated by The Home Depot and the Company’s national nonprofit partner KaBOOM!, which envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The playground will be built by The Home Depot volunteers and community members in the city of Rascal Flatts choice. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy and Reba McEntire.

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The Home Depot and KaBOOM! celebrate 1,000th playspace

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization whose vision is a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America, announces that The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, is its first partner to build or refurbish 1,000 playspaces. The Home Depot and KaBOOM! first committed to building 1,000 playspaces together in 2005.

“The Home Depot’s unprecedented participation in this initiative will enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of children all over North America,” said Darell Hammond, CEO and Co-Founder, KaBOOM! "I am truly astounded by the impact this partnership has made on communities across the nation.”

The 1,000th build took place in Victory Park, in the City of Marietta, Ga. The playground, built in partnership with the City of Marietta Parks & Recreation and the Marietta Kiwanis, will provide a safe, fun environment for children from the community and three nearby schools.

As the founding partner of KaBOOM! since 1995, The Home Depot provides financial support, materials and hundreds of volunteers for play space projects across North America.

Hot off the presses!

The Home Depot/KaBOOM! Yearbooks have arrived! Each page represents a celebration of the milestones, events and highlights of the 1,000 Playgrounds in 1,000 Days initiative and the true spirit of community. It is a visual salute to the numerous volunteers who have selflessly dedicated their time, skills and sweat equity to increase opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play for children all across North America.

Click on the image above to download. PDF file: 14MB

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