Kids across America are learning the benefits of outdoor activities since first lady Michelle Obama has encouraged children to take up healthy outdoor lifestyles with her Let's Move! initiative. Two special companies are ready to introduce America's children to the simple idea of creating outdoors. Amber's Garden (www.ambersgarden.com) pre-seeded vegetable garden mats are an easy way for families and schools to grow healthy veggies right up to Thanksgiving. Pre-seeded veggie mats take the guess work out of what to plant and how to plant it, making gardening enjoyable and virtually effortless for everybody. Vegetable gardens will teach children where food comes from, and also how to eat healthier, since children are more inclined to try a new vegetable that comes from their efforts.

People Powered Machines (www.peoplepoweredmachines.com) was founded by a teacher and carries a line of over 80 carbon neutral lawn and garden products that are also kid-friendly. For instance, the NaturCut Classic HD and NaturCut Ideal 40 Push Reel Mowers are extremely lightweight, easy to push, quiet, release zero-emissions and fumes, and have adjustable handles to accommodate a child's height. People Powered Machines also offers wormeries, bee houses, and the Rolypig Composter- built especially for kids and perfect for a school or home learning project by including a lesson plan. Teach children the importance of reducing landfill waste and creating useful compost for bountiful gardens. People Powered Machines offers solutions to make gardening and yard work an engaging activity that provides fresh air and exercise while taking children on an educational journey about how to differentiate and tend to plants.

About People Powered Machines

People Powered Machines is dedicated to serving the needs of consumers with environmentally-sound lawn care products. Based in Ipswich, MA, David Temple, founder of People Powered Machines, built this company upon the mission of raising awareness of the benefits of reel mowing and human-powered gardening tools, like the high-quality and durable NaturCut Push Reel Mowers. David Temple was also a teacher for many years. For more information, please visit www.peoplepoweredmachines.com, or email david@peoplepoweredmachines.com.

About Amber's Garden

Based in Carlsbad, CA, Amber's Garden was founded by Connie J. Henderson and inspired by her daughter, Amber, in an effort to increase awareness for children about the impact they have on the earth, and help them understand where their food comes from. Educating kids about the importance of recycling, conservation and the reduction of waste creates an environment ripe for activities such as gardening, cooking and learning how to eat healthy. Pre-seeded veggie mats are a great lifestyle fit. We want everyone to dig in the dirt! Find out more at www.ambersgarden.com or send an email to connie@ambersgarden.com.

For press inquiries, contact Amy Echt at Christie Communications, www.christiecomm.com, by phone at (805)969-3744, or email aecht@christiecomm.com.

SOURCE Amber's Garden

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http://www.ambersgarden.com
http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is pleased to have been selected as the primary appliance supplier for Home Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HME). As part of the agreement, Whirlpool Corporation is providing replacement and upgraded appliances for Home Properties' approximately 37,000 apartment units located primarily in selected Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.

"After careful review, we selected Whirlpool Corporation as our primary appliance provider because we feel it has the strongest offering from a product, service and pricing standpoint," said Keith Knight, vice president of capital improvements and national accounts for Home Properties. "Whirlpool Corporation understands our needs and how we operate, which is crucial to our success."

Home Properties now offers a wide variety of Whirlpool brand appliances, including ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers and refrigerators. The partnership has also helped Home Properties streamline its appliance program, leading to faster, more consistent service.

"Home Properties' unwavering commitment to providing quality multifamily rental housing and superior customer service is the cornerstone of its success," said Tom Halford, general manager, contract sales and marketing at Whirlpool Corporation. "We're committed to helping further this success by providing the right products and flexible services to cater to the needs of property management."

About Home Properties

Home Properties is a publicly traded apartment real estate investment trust that owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities primarily in selected Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Currently, Home Properties operates 113 communities containing 38,019 apartment units. Of these, 37,151 units in 112 communities are owned directly by the Company and 868 units are partially owned and managed by the Company as general partner.  For more information, visit Home Properties' website at homeproperties.com.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation strives to exceed expectations with appliances that help building professionals create homes of distinction. The Inside Advantage™ is designed to meet the needs of Whirlpool Corporation's building community customers. More than a program, The Inside Advantage™ provides trade customers with the strength of Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Market Insight and Targeted Services, all from one company. 

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.  For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building professionals, please visit www.insideadvantage.com or call 1-800-952-2537.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

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Enduris®, a leading manufacturer of PVC decking, railing, and vinyl fencing has just announced a graduated rebate program--with up to $600 back to the consumer from the manufacturer for using Endeck® PVC decking and Enrail® PVC railing.

The cash-back incentive makes it advantageous for homeowners to seek out this new low maintenance decking. Endeck cellular PVC is embossed on two sides, easily reversible, scratch-resistant, mold-resistant, carries a Class-A flame spread, and is CCRR Code Approved. The surface or capstock has real-world proven weatherability gained from years of experience manufacturing vinyl fence. It's patent pending process provides an extremely uniform cell structure free of voids and delamination found in some of the leading brands.  Enduris vinyl railing is also CCRR Code Approved.

The amount of the rebate is dependent on the square footage of Endeck and Enrail used for the project.

"We are confident that our Endeck PVC decking can out-perform any of the leading brands," says president John Polidan. "With this cash-back incentive, we're going to give consumers a real reason to discover it for themselves."

To qualify for the rebate, homeowners need to submit contractor, distributor and their own contact information, copies of contracts, material delivery receipts, and a few photos of the finished deck. The decking and railing materials must be purchased between 9/1/2010 and 12/31/2010. Offer void where prohibited. Details are available at http://enduris.com/endeck-composite-decking/save-600-dollars.cfm

Enduris, headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, has been manufacturing the highest quality code approved cellular PVC decking, code approved vinyl railing, lineals for vinyl fencing, vinyl gates and all associated accessories since 1998. Visit the website at www.endeck.com.

This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit http://www.webwire.com

SOURCE Enduris

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Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS) today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy Wadhams and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald DeMarie will present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2010 Investment Conference in San Francisco, CA on September 14, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Masco Corporation's presentation will be webcast live on the Internet at https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/investment2010/id32259030.cfm or via the Company's Web site at www.masco.com.  A replay of the webcast will be available via the above link or via Masco's Web site through September 28, 2010.

Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, as well as a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products.

Masco Corporation's press releases and other information are available through the Company's toll free number, 1-888-MAS-NEWS, or under the Investor Relations section of Masco's Web site at www.masco.com.  

Statements contained herein, or otherwise made available, that reflect the Company's views about its future performance may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These views involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and the Company's results may differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements.  For further information, refer to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (particularly the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections) and to any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Certain of the financial and statistical data made available are non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC's Regulation G.  The Company believes that such non-GAAP performance measures and ratios used in managing the business may provide users with meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior periods.  Non-GAAP performance measures and ratios should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Additional information about the Company is contained in the Company's filings with the SEC and is available on Masco's Web site.

SOURCE Masco Corporation

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http://www.masco.com

Crawford Contractor Connection(SM), the industry's largest independently managed contractor repair network, is now available to property owners seeking contractors for remodeling and renovation projects.

The Consumer Services Network offers the following services to property owners: general contracting; board ups; water mitigation; roofing, siding and gutter work; remodeling; flooring; tree removal; special needs modification; and general home maintenance. Services are available whether repairs are related to an insurance claim or just part of a remodeling or maintenance project.

Contractor Connection(SM) is part of Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA; CRDB), the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions. The managed repair network has provided services to the insurance industry for residential and commercial property losses since 1996. Crawford decided to expand the offering direct to consumers due to popular demand for the service.

Using a managed repair network offers several significant advantages to property owners. First, Contractor Connection's service providers are screened by Crawford, which can speed the repair process by reducing the time it takes to find a reputable contractor and eliminating the need to get multiple bids.

"We provide one of the most stringent contractor screening processes in the industry. This process ensures that only the most qualified and financially stable companies in the restoration industry are participating in our network," says Larry Thomas, senior vice president of Contractor Connection. "Finding a properly licensed and professional service provider is not an easy process, and we reduce that burden for the consumer."

Another benefit provided by Contractor Connection is access to a network of contractors property owners know they can trust. "Our customer service team ensures that the providers in our network are making timely contact with homeowners and returning estimates as quickly as possible," Thomas says. "We perform customer satisfaction surveys to ensure that assigned contractors are maintaining the high quality standards we expect of them."

To learn more about Contractor Connection, visit www.contractorconnection.com and click on the button for the consumer services website. Property owners may request a contractor via the site.

About Crawford

Based in Atlanta, Ga., Crawford & Company (www.crawfordandcompany.com) is the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry as well as self-insured entities, with a global network of more than 700 locations in 63 countries. The Crawford System of Claims Solutions(SM) offers comprehensive, integrated claims services, business process outsourcing and consulting services for major product lines including property and casualty claims management, workers compensation claims and medical management, and legal settlement administration. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbols CRDA and CRDB.

SOURCE Crawford & Company

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http://www.crawfordandcompany.com