Project Playhouse, HomeAid's signature fundraising event, kicks off Sept. 8 with a grand opening that brings a small neighborhood of charming playhouses to The Lakes shopping center in Thousand Oaks.

Pardee Homes, Lennar Homes, Shea Homes and LL Development Inc. are each creating these intricately crafted, kid-sized dream houses, which will be displayed through the Oct. 20 Project Playhouse auction party that determines their lucky owners. Landscape Development Inc. is donating its resources to provide a quaint backdrop for the playhouse village.

Pardee Homes again joins with American Girl, the makers of books, dolls and accessories that celebrate girls. The two companies will host American Girl Day on Sept. 30 at the Project Playhouse village, with special activities to be announced.

The playhouse for this year's event will feature American Girl's 2007 Girl of the Year character. Nicki Fleming is a contemporary girl who's compassionate, generous and a natural with animals. Nicki's home at The Lakes will be an 8-foot-by-10-foot country ranch like the one she's growing up on in Colorado, complete with porch, adjacent corral for her pony Jackson, and a house for Sprocket, the service dog she's raising and training for a person in need.

Nicki's Ranch House also features a leather easy chair, cowhide ottoman, cowgirl clock and a flat-screen TV, making it the perfect spot for a young ranch hand, according to Joyce Mason, vice president of marketing for Pardee Homes.

"Nicki is an ideal representation of the helping hand of volunteerism, and thus an ideal symbol for Project Playhouse," Mason said. "Pardee Homes builds playhouses that inspire philanthropy and help make children's dreams come true and American Girl continues to be a phenomenal partner in that effort. We are delighted to partner again with American Girl as we continue our longtime support of HomeAid and Project Playhouse."

The Lakes invites public tours of all of the adorable playhouses each weekend from noon to 6 p.m., starting Sept. 8, through the auction party date, Oct. 20. Donations of $2 per person are requested for the tours. "Activities, prize drawings, refreshments, entertainment and other festivities make a Playhouse visit a wonderful family outing," said Jennie Cowart, executive director of HomeAid Los Angeles Ventura. She added that all funds raised would help HomeAid's programs for the temporarily homeless in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, a population estimated to be some 95,000 at any given time.

The Oct. 20 auction gala will take place at Gardens of the World, located directly across from The Lakes. One of the little homes, L'il Fitness Palace by New Urban West, will serve as the annual Opportunity House, which will go to the lucky winner of a raffle — tickets will be available at $3 each. The remaining playhouses will be auctioned at the gala and all proceeds benefit HomeAid.

"We are encouraging everyone in the community to take this exciting opportunity to have a great time while helping a great cause," said Jean Dickinson, marketing director for The Lakes.

Sponsorships and volunteer opportunities for Project Playhouse special events are still available. For more information,visit www.projectplayhouse.com or call HomeAid Los Angeles/Ventura at (818) 889-9494. E-mail homeaidpr@yahoo.com.

HomeAid's local chapter works in conjunction with the Building Industry Association, builders and their associates to donate in-kind labor, materials and services to build and renovate housing for the temporarily homeless. The organization also partners with care providers that offer life-changing support and skills to help beneficiaries get back on their feet, and regain their self-sufficiency. HomeAid Los Angeles/Ventura has built or renovated more than 19 shelters to date, including Girls and Boys Town in East Rancho Dominguez and Haven Hills in the San Fernando Valley.

Originally established in 1921, Pardee Homes is active in California and Nevada, with regional offices in Corona, Sacramento, San Diego, Valencia and Las Vegas. The company's emphasis on community commitment is reflected by such honors as the Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award, the home building industry's most prestigious philanthropic awards program. Visit www.pardeehomes.com.

American Girl, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT, www.mattel.com), the world's leading toy company. Since American Girl's inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1.800.845.0005 or visit www.americangirl.com.

Image path : EDIT:zAdvertorial:New Homes: New Home photos:ProjectPlayhouse BW.eps (There is a color rendering in same folder)

Pardee Homes and American Girl will feature Nicki's Colorado Ranch House at Project Playhouse, HomeAid fundraiser for the transitionally homeless.