WD-40 Partners with Rebuilding Together to Search for Tradesperson of the Year; Offer Trip to Super Bowl

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WD-40®, in partnership with Rebuilding Together®, is looking for the 2010 Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™ – someone who reflects the values of both brands, gives back to the community and adds value to his or her skilled trade industry.

“Without the generosity and dedication of individuals and professional organizations in the skilled trades, Rebuilding Together could not accomplish its mission to improve the lives and communities of homeowners in need”

Individuals can nominate trade professionals at RTTradespersonOfTheYear.com until Nov. 16, 2010. Six finalists will be chosen from specific skilled trade categories, including: carpenter, contractor, electrician, HVAC/plumber, painter and roofer. One grand prize winner will receive a Super Bowl getaway for two, including air travel, lodging, game tickets and $500 in cash.

The winning tradesperson will also receive $5,000 worth of products and tools courtesy of WD-40 and Sears Blue Tool Crew, and appear as a guest co-host on a live national radio broadcast of “On the House with the Carey Brothers,” which is the Tradesperson of the Year™ national radio partner. The individual who nominates the grand prize winner will also receive $1,500 worth of products and tools. Five runner-up finalists and their nominators will also receive products and tools courtesy of Sears Blue Tool Crew and WD-40.

“WD-40 has been helping skilled trade professionals get the job done for more than 50 years, from loosening rusted plumbing joints to keeping tools in tip-top shape,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company. “We want to honor those who work hard on the job and in their communities, and partnering with Rebuilding Together is a great way to do that.”

The Tradesperson of The Year™ program officially kicks off during Rebuilding Together’s “Fifty for Five” in New Orleans, a five-day event starting Aug. 24 that recognizes the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by restoring 50 hurricane-devastated homes throughout the city. The event includes more than 1,000 volunteers rehabilitating houses, national celebrities, and local music and entertainment at a block party Aug. 28. WD-40 Company employees will work with Rebuilding Together and other volunteers to rehabilitate a home in the Gentilly area as part of the event.

"Without the generosity and dedication of individuals and professional organizations in the skilled trades, Rebuilding Together could not accomplish its mission to improve the lives and communities of homeowners in need,” said John White, vice president of business development and advocacy at Rebuilding Together. “We are excited to partner with WD-40 to launch the Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™ program and bring recognition to the spirit of service within the industry.”

For more information about the Tradesperson of the Year™ program or to nominate an individual for the award, please visit RTTradespersonOfTheYear.com.

About WD-40

WD-40 has been helping construction and skilled trade professionals get the job done for more than 50 years. As the program’s presenting partner and sponsor, the brand exemplifies integrity, versatility and problem-solving, all values reflected in the Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™. To learn more about WD-40 and its 2,000+ uses, visit wd40.com.

About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Through a network of more than 200 affiliates, Rebuilding Together provides free home repairs to low-income Americans, making homes safer, more accessible and more energy efficient. Rebuilding Together, along with its sponsors, partners and more than 200,000 volunteers, believes in a safe and healthy home for every person. For more information on how you can donate or volunteer, visit RebuildingTogether.org.

About “On the House with the Carey Brothers”

As the program’s national radio partner, James and Morris Carey, known as the Carey Brothers, will be interviewing the finalists on-air during their weekly radio program and discussing the program in their syndicated newspaper column. Nationally recognized experts in home building and renovation, the two regularly share their 55 years of experience as licensed contractors with readers and listeners. Go to OnTheHouse.com to learn more and listen in.

WD-40 Company, with headquarters in San Diego, is a global consumer product company dedicated to delivering unique, high-value and easy-to-use solutions for a wide variety of maintenance needs of "doer" and "on-the-job" users by leveraging and building the brand fortress of the company. The company markets three multi-purpose maintenance product brands – WD-40®, 3-IN-ONE® and BLUE WORKS™ – and eight homecare and cleaning product brands: X-14® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes® automatic toilet bowl cleaners, Carpet Fresh® and No Vac® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers, 1001® carpet, household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers, and Lava® and Solvol® heavy-duty hand cleaners.