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February 12, 2007

Richmond Builder & Developer Nationally Recognized for Lifetime of Philanthropy: Robert Atack Receives 2007 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award

Robert Atack, president of Atack Properties, was presented with the prestigious Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award for his philanthropy and lifetime commitment to helping others. The award, which includes a donation of $150,000 to charities of Atack's choosing, was presented at a gala event held during the annual National Home Builders Association Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award is given to building industry leaders have helped people in their communities.

Richmond, Va. (PRWEB) February 10, 2007 -- Robert Atack, president of Atack Properties, was presented with the prestigious Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award for his philanthropy and lifetime commitment to helping others. The award, which includes a donation of $150,000 to charities of Atack's choosing, was presented at a gala event held during the annual National Home Builders Association Conference in Orlando, Florida. Atack's charitable giving has centered on his hometown of Richmond, Va., where he has donated millions of dollars and countless hours to a variety of organizations over the last 20 years. "I am exceptionally honored to receive this award," says Atack, "People's legacies," he says, "are so much defined by what they've accumulated. A legacy is better defined by what they do." He adds: "I think people do what they can."

Presented annually by San Rafael-based Hearthstone, the largest institutional investor in residential development projects in the United States - and Washington, DC-based Hanley Wood, publisher of BUILDER Magazine, official publication of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) - the Hearthstone / BUILDER Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to public service. Nominees are for-profit, single-family builders or lot developers and may be companies, employees or owners. Winners are selected by a panel of judges, with special attention given to those builders who use their talents to provide housing for the under-privileged or otherwise enhance the quality of life in their communities. During the past seven years, the Award has bestowed nearly $4 million to humanitarian causes throughout the nation. In addition to the cash award given to the recipient's charity of choice, the winner and their charity are featured in BUILDER magazine February 2007 issue. The Hearthstone-BUILDER Humanitarian was inaugurated eight years ago by award partners Hearthstone and BUILDER Magazine with the generous support of founding sponsor, The Kohler Co.

"The Hearthstone BUILDER Lifetime Public Service Award honors building industry leaders who have made a conscientious effort - in some cases, over the span of many years - helping people in or near the communities they serve," said Boyce Thompson, editorial director of Builder, Big Builder, Multifamily Executive Magazine, Digital Home and Residential Developer. "It honors leaders such as John Crosland and Robert Atack. John and Bob don't just write checks or give away their time to get their names engraved -- because what's more important is they know the faces of the people in their communities and do their best to rally people to their collective causes. They're known leaders who are vested into the success of the neighborhoods they live in and serve, supporting social causes to house the homeless, to shelter abused people or to save cultural institutions. These honorees deserve special recognition for their concern for others -- and for their tireless efforts to public service."

"I've heard all my life, 'Put your money where your mouth is'. I think Bob puts his money where his faith is. The causes to which Bob contributes, he has great faith in them, confidence in them. He's firmly committed to anything he gets involved in," says Dr. William Jeryl Fink, former president and advisor for Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc., who nominated Atack for the award.

Ten years ago, Atack was introduced to Good Samaritan Ministries and has been actively involved with many of the mission's projects including the renovation of two apartment complexes in Richmond to provide 78 apartment units for transitional and affordable community housing for graduates of the GSM programs. The renovations were completed in two phases between 2002 and 2006. These projects raised $3.8 million through capital campaigns of which Atack gave $1.5 million and helped raise an additional $1 million through community contacts for the apartment renovation projects.

Without understanding why, Atack believes that his philanthropy has also made a difference in his business success. "It seems the more I give, the better I do," he said.

"Being involved in the mission has strengthened my faith because I see the results," says Atack. Next, he hopes to help the mission expand its school before he retires.

Other projects that Atack has contributed to and taken an active leadership role include:
• Virginia United Methodist Homes WindsorMeade senior housing project in Williamsburg, Va.
• Virginia United Methodist Homes The Hermitage at Cedarfield in Richmond, Va.
• Commonwealth Christian Academy
• The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
• The Virginia Holocaust Museum
• Mount Vernon Baptist Church
• Shady Grove YMCA
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Richmond Strikers Youth Soccer Club
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• St. Joseph's Villa

Atack was previously recognized for his commitment to positively impacting economic growth and advancement of the Richmond community as the 1997 Philanthropist of the Year, as an inductee into VCU's Circle of Excellence, and as recipient of the 2002 Mary Tyler McClenahan Visionary Leadership Award.

Atack founded Atack Properties in 1985. Since then, the company has developed a wide range of single-family, multi-family, and corporate center developments, including the Innsbrook Corporate Center. Atack Properties employs 21 people and contributes significantly to Richmond's economy as well as its sense of community through its thoughtfully designed and developed residential and corporate communities in the counties of Hanover, Henrico & Chesterfield.

For more information on Robert Atack or Atack Properties, call 804.330.8001.

About HEARTHSTONE:
HEARTHSTONE was the first, and today is the largest institutional investor in residential development projects in the United States, with over $11.5 billion committed to the industry. Founded in 1992, Hearthstone has financed more than 450 communities to date in 90 markets in 25 states representing nearly 100,000 homes.
The firm manages a substantial source of investment capital from public and private pension plans, university endowments, Fortune 100 companies and large private trusts. Hearthstone invests these funds in homebuilding and residential lot development projects throughout the United States. Headquartered in San Rafael, it has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Diego.

About Hanley Wood, LLC
Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media and information company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company is also North America's leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Business Media (Washington, D.C.), publishes 30 award-winning residential and commercial construction titles, including BUILDER, DIGITAL HOME, ARCHITECT, CUSTOM HOME, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION and residential architect. Hanley Wood Business Media also offers the construction industry's foremost collection of Web sites, including BUILDER Online, REMODELING Online, and ebuild, the comprehensive online guide to building products, as well as the largest collection of house plans online through eplans.com and Dream Home Source.

Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $250 million company owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, LLC. CCMP Capital Advisors manages the Hanley Wood investment for JPMorgan Partners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at February 12, 2007 09:56 PM

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