News Release
Charter Communications Helps ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Bring Family's Home and Local Coffee Shop to Life
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2008--Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) didn't miss a beat when a call came from the team at ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition asking for help that would change the lives of two St. Louis families. Charter responded by donating its full range of broadband services to both the Extreme Makeover production team and the local families.
"Charter believes in being an active part of the communities where we do business," said Ted Schremp, Charter's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Having this opportunity to be a good neighbor by donating resources and manpower to help Ty Pennington and the ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team with two projects in Charter's hometown is very special."
The miracles that the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team makes possible across the country come about in just a few days, working 24/7. Everything must be efficient, so in addition to the family recipients, the ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition production team is working at peak capacity thanks to donated Charter Business(TM) broadband communications solutions for business organizations - Internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone.
Dawn and Emmanuel Martirez have three children: daughter Elle and twins Alec and Evan, both of whom have special needs that could not be easily addressed in their small Shrewsbury home. During the next few days, their new home is being built to double the space and make it more accessible for the twins.
At the new Martirez family home, Charter will provide free services including Charter Telephone(R), blazing fast 16 Mbps Charter High-Speed(R) Internet access, a laptop computer and Wireless Home Networking, Charter Digital Cable(R) and Charter HDTV(TM).
Sam Malek, born in Egypt 44 years ago with cerebral palsy, has operated a drive-through coffee shop in Ballwin, More than Coffee, since 2007. He employs handicapped individuals and each month donates some of his proceeds to local charitable organizations, helping "challenged people one cup at a time." His shop is being totally rebuilt. Mr. Malek's new More Than Coffee location will also boast Charter Business technology with telephone, high-speed Internet services and a new laptop computer.
This is the second time Charter Communications has participated in ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Last year, Charter helped rebuild a youth center and home in a community near Reno, NV.
"Sam's place is close to Charter's headquarters," said Mr. Schremp, who has been a coffee shop patron. "Charter is proud to have the St. Louis community as its corporate home and considers it both a privilege and a responsibility to give back and enrich the lives of our neighbors like Sam Malek and the Martirez family."
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications, Inc. is a leading broadband communications company and the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter Digital Cable(R) video entertainment programming, Charter High-Speed(R) Internet access, and Charter Telephone(R). Charter Business(TM) similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media(R) brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.
About ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 5th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer, and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.
CONTACT: Charter Communications, Inc.
Anita Lamont, 314-543-2215
SOURCE: Charter Communications, Inc.