Handyman Express Sponsors First Handyman Olympics

Andy Bell, CEO of Handyman Express, announced that the recent inaugural Handyman Olympics was more than a huge success for charity - it was also an event that united Denver citizens in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on America.

Held on September 29 and October 1 at Denver's Civic Center Park, the Handyman Olympics featured 10 teams of local contractors, craftsmen and handymen, all challenged with building fully functional bathrooms from the ground up that would be donated for use in regional Habitat for Humanity projects. The teams worked non-stop, 14 hours over two days, with building materials donated by ACE Hardware.

All other proceeds from the event benefited Housing Services Initiatives, a non-profit Denver organization aimed at keeping the elderly and handicapped in their homes 5 to 7 years longer.

Andy Bell, CEO/founder of Handyman Express, a Denver-based home-repair service focused on small to medium-sized projects, was excited and emotional about the event. "The teamwork was phenomenal, and the bathrooms were awesome," said Bell. "But what really touched everyone was the absolute compassion that these contractors demonstrated for their less fortunate brothers."

Bell refers to a couple of random acts of kindness that seemed to overshadow the Olympics - things that Bell wouldn't change for anything. There was Glen, a homeless man who volunteered to help ACME Building's team the first day of the event. Glen called Civic Center Park his home, and thought he would pitch in. Glen also needed to travel back to Boston to care for his father who was dying from Alzheimer's Disease.

ACME Building Services heard about the Olympics one day prior to the event, begged to be involved and wouldn't take "no" for an answer. They rounded up a bunch of fellow-contractors, and with Glen's help, ended up winning first place. All Glen wanted was an event t-shirt. His teammates and Handyman Express employees gave Glen a shirt, as well as enough money to send him back to Boston to visit his Dad.

The three best bathrooms, judged on their completeness, creativity and craftsmanship, all won $1,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively in product-related gift certificates for their efforts. All three teams donated the value of the certificates to Housing Services Initiatives, who received $12,347 from the Handyman Olympics. The bathrooms and materials that were donated to Habitat for Humanity were valued at $16,540.

Lou Manfredini, from his "Mr. Fix-It" syndicated radio show on WGN AM Radio 720 in Chicago, represented ACE Hardware at the awards ceremony. "I'm amazed at the craftsmanship," he said to the teams. "But most importantly, events like these are contagious. And in this time of uncertainty and unrest, they make everyone think about a bigger picture, that we can all help in our own special way and make a difference. What goes around comes around - just ask Glen."

Handyman Express is a Denver-based home repair company specializing in small to medium-sized projects. With three locations in Denver, as well as other stores in Colorado Springs, Houston, Detroit, southern and northern California, Handyman Express was recently nationally franchised.