Holiday Builders’ Ambassador Comes Out of Retirement to Assist WNBA Team

Holiday Builders, an award-winning homebuilder celebrating 25 years of quality building, today celebrated its most visible ambassador, Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, and her exit out of professional basketball retirement. WNBA’s Detroit Shock team signed Ms. Lieberman to a seven-day contract, taking her out of the ESPN broadcast booth and back on the court as the team looks to her to help make up for the absence of forward Cheryl Ford. The moment Ms. Lieberman took the court in Thursday night’s game, playing nine minutes, she broke her own record as the oldest player ever in the WNBA — a record she originally set in 1997 with the Phoenix Mercury at age 39.

Ms. Lieberman was selected to serve as a Holiday Builders ambassador in January of 2008 to help the company and its Employee-Owners promote the benefits and timeliness of homeownership throughout the communities it serves. Since then, Ms. Lieberman has worked with Holiday Builders to educate consumers about why now is the time to reach out and grasp the dream of homeownership.

“Holiday Builders is very excited to see Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman back on the court,” said Kim Shelpman, CEO of Holiday Builders. “Nancy’s passion for the sport and true skill is remarkable. Her moxie both on and off the court mirrors Holiday Builders’ dedication to fostering the development of every community we serve.”

Holiday Builders is currently offering a ‘Rate Buy Down’ program where prospective homebuyers purchase a home at a 30-year fixed interest rate of 5.25 percent. Holiday Builders then “buys down” the rate to 3.25% for the first year and 4.25 percent for the second year. For the third year, and the life of the home loan, the rate will be 5.25 percent (APR 5.37%) — never to go up.

Through this program, new homebuyers’ payments are greatly reduced during the first two years, making a home more affordable, giving them time to budget for year three and beyond — after they have begun to enjoy the tax benefits of homeownership.

Holiday Builders has built more than 30,000 single-family homes throughout Florida, Texas and Alabama, with more than 50 proven floor plans and approximately 180 elevations.

For more information on Holiday Builders and what new homes are ready for move-in in your community, visit http://www.holidaybuilders.com/ .

About Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman

Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman is an accomplished basketball player, coach, two-time Olympian, broadcaster and writer. In 1975, she was named to the USA Team designated to play in the World Championships and Pan American Games where she brought home a gold medal in 1975 and a silver medal in 1979. Ms. Lieberman has provided commentary for ABC, ESPN, NBC, NBA-TV and is a contributing writer to the Dallas Morning News, the New York Times and USA Today. She is currently a full-time analyst with ESPN for men’s and women’s college basketball and both the men’s (NBA) and women’s (WNBA) National Basketball Association’s development leagues. During the summer, Ms. Lieberman hosts and coaches basketball camps for girls and boys in Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix.

Nancy Lieberman is also heavily involved with charities such as the Special Olympics, the Jimmy V Foundation (named for the late Jim Valvano), and has been the local chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s “Race for the Cure” in Plano, Texas — a support group for victims of breast cancer.

Source: Holiday Builders

Insurer reveals new look of the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion for Next Season and Beyond

Aflac Incorporated unveiled its sleek new look for Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion driven by NASCAR veteran Carl Edwards. Beginning next season, Edwards, who has a multi-year primary sponsorship with Aflac, will race in one of the most formidable-looking cars in 2009. With the main color jet black and the secondary colors shades of green and blue, this ride will be hard to miss — even at speeds of 200 mph. Aflac revealed the new color scheme during a circuit stop in Indiana with Edwards present.

“Aflac is excited about its sponsorship of the Number 99 and Carl Edwards, and we wanted to make sure that showed through with the car design in 2009,” said Paul S. Amos II, president, Aflac; COO, U.S. Operations. “The new paint scheme exudes tremendous energy, speed and stealth, and showcases the Aflac Duck and signature feather design. We anticipate the new design to be a fan-favorite.”

“I am so excited to be racing with the Aflac Duck for many more races,” said Edwards, a three-time winner this season and No. 4 in points in the Sprint Cup Series. “Black is an intimidating color; it will be hard to miss us on the track. The Aflac Duck and I look forward to bringing the checkered flag home in style many times over the next few seasons in the new car.”

“We are thrilled to be more involved with Aflac for several more years,” added Jack Roush, Roush Fenway Racing team owner. “It is exciting to be associated with a sponsor who loves the sport as much as we do and actively participates in their sponsorship. They have been an outstanding sponsor and we’re pleased that Aflac will be a bigger part of our team. Seeing the new paint scheme gets me fired up for next season, and I look forward to seeing it in Victory Lane often.”

The new paint scheme will debut in February 2009 at Daytona International Speedway. For more information, including images of the new paint scheme, please visit www.AflacRacing.com.

Racing fans can visit www.AflacRacing.com for exclusive videos, track analysis, promotions, screen savers and other features. Racing fans can also watch Edwards and the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion at the following upcoming races:

July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 31 at Auto Club Speedway
Oct. 11 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Aflac is an official sponsor of NASCAR and the official supplemental insurance company for Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing. In 2007, Aflac became an official sponsor of Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR, sponsoring four drivers for eight races. In 2008, Aflac continued its sponsorship, but chose to run exclusively with Edwards and have already taken home one checkered flag. With Edwards’ personal focus on health and wellness coupled with Aflac’s ability to pay cash benefits promptly to help policyholders with bills, this expanded relationship promises to be a win on and off the track. Some of Aflac’s insurance policies provide a Wellness Benefit for routine covered examinations and other preventive tests, such as screenings for different illnesses and conditions.

Source: Aflac Incorporated

WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM UNTIL AUGUST 24

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today announced the extension of the run of its special exhibition, The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936, until August 24, the final day of the Beijing Olympics.

“Holocaust history continues to offer perspective for understanding today’s questions and challenges,” says Exhibition Curator Susan Bachrach. “We are pleased that our schedule allowed us to extend the run of this exhibition that provides a backdrop to the contemporary Games.”

The 1936 Olympic Games were awarded to Berlin prior to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. Hitler originally eschewed the idea of hosting the Games, but soon realized that they could be exploited for propaganda purposes. Hosting the Olympics presented the Nazi leadership with an extraordinary opportunity to project the illusion of a peaceful, tolerant Germany under the guise of the Games’ spirit of international cooperation. That effort was largely successful, and the young regime scored a major propaganda victory.

However, as the world watched Nazi Germany’s re-militarization, extreme nationalism, rampant racism, and persecution of Jews, Roma, Sinti, political opponents and others, many expressed doubts about the appropriateness of holding the Games in Berlin. A widespread and passionate debate arose, especially in the United States, about boycotting the Games, centering on the interplay between sports and politics. Ultimately, 49 teams from around the world competed.

The exhibition, which debuted at the Museum in 1996 in conjunction with the opening of the Atlanta Games, returned to Washington, D.C. in April 2008, following a 10-year national tour to 16 cities. Artifacts have been added, including an original torch from the 1936 torch run, and Gold medals won by Jesse Owens, John Woodruff and Ralph Metcalfe. The Museum’s web site, www.ushmm.org, contains an online version of the exhibition, and a number of specially produced audio-visual and new media features.

The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 is on display in the Museum’s Kimmel-Rowan Gallery on the lower level. Entry is free and no passes are needed. The Museum is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum strives to inspire leaders and citizens to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity and strengthen democracy. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanence, and donors nationwide make possible its educational activities and global outreach. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.

Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum