Operation Homefront Selects Local Veteran for Mortgage-Free Home

RALEIGH, N.C. - Oct. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Operation Homefront has selected three military families to receive newly-built mortgage-free homes from Meritage Homes Corporation . One of these energy-efficient homes is located in Apex, North Carolina; its unveiling is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2013. The event will take place at 313 Striped Maple Court in the Park at Langston community, with the Key Ceremony from 10:30 am – 11:00 am, followed by a Welcome Home BBQ from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Army Sergeant Jeffrey Lynch is the recipient of this special Meritage home of 2,066 square feet. It is located just a half hour from Duke University, where Jeffrey receives specialized medical treatment. Both Jeffrey and his wife Christy have family nearby in Fayetteville; they also are the parents of a four year-old daughter.

Each of the veterans was selected based on a number of qualifications including, but not limited to family needs and ties to the community. These homes are the first three newly-built homes provided through Operation Homefront's “Homes on the Homefront” program. Tim Farrell, the organization's Chief Operating Officer, says that working with Meritage is a major opportunity for the program to serve military families in a new way.

"Our partnership with Meritage Homes will allow us to not only extend our ‘Homes on the Homefront’ program into new waters, but most importantly allow three military families to own brand new homes," said Farrell. "It's an exciting time for each of the families, as well as our team at Operation Homefront, as we look forward to handing over the keys to the homes in November."

Meritage Homes' contribution to the “Homes on the Homefront” program has already made a major impact on military families, but will not stop at just these three homes. Meritage employees will also take part in a "Sweat Equity" campaign designed to assist Operation Homefront in numerous areas throughout the country. Volunteers at each of Meritage's 13 offices across the nation will assist local Operation Homefront field offices in various volunteer opportunities.

"We recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of our brave men and women serving in America's armed forces," said Steven J. Hilton, chairman and CEO of Meritage Homes. "Together with our suppliers and trade partners who are participating with us in this program, we are delighted to provide these homes to these deserving families."

For more information about the Operation Homefront and Meritage Homes partnership, please visit http://www.HomesontheHomefront.org/Highlights or www.MeritageHomes.com.

About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has met more than 750,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally 95 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

About Meritage Homes Corporation
Meritage Homes is the ninth-largest public homebuilder in the United States, based on 4,238 homes closed in 2012. Meritage builds and sells single-family homes for first-time, move-up, luxury and active adult buyers across the Western, Southern and Southeastern United States. As of March 31, 2013, the company had 168 actively selling communities in markets including Sacramento, San Francisco's East Bay, the Central Valley and Southern California; Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Denver, Colorado; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Meritage has designed and built more than 75,000 homes in its 27-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and positive customer experience. Meritage is the industry leader in energy efficient homebuilding and in 2013, Meritage received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award, for its innovation and industry leadership in energy efficient homebuilding. Meritage was the first national homebuilder to be 100 percent ENERGY STAR® qualified in every home it builds, and far exceeds ENERGY STAR standards today.

For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com.

SOURCE Operation Homefront