Lighthouse Lovers Rally in Force to Help Pick a JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Winner
With more than a quarter-million public votes cast so far, it’s a close race among the 12 finalists

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. July 29, 2008 — Just in time for National Lighthouse Day on Aug. 7, the hotly contested race to find this year’s most reliable lighthouse is attracting hundreds of thousands of votes from fans and lighthouse communities throughout the nation.

A field of 12 deserving finalists selected for the JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative has so far generated an impressive 350,000 online votes, with early indications of three clear public favorites. With about a month to go until polls close Sept. 7, Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Michigan, Bodie Island Light Station in North Carolina and New Canal Lighthouse in Louisiana are in a tight race for the top vote: Grand Traverse with 36 percent of the votes and Bodie Island and New Canal trailing closely behind with 20 percent each. Ohio’s Toledo Harbor Lighthouse is also a strong contender.

“The outpouring of support that people have shown for their favorite lighthouses is amazing,” said Joyce Richter, lighthouse project manager for JELD-WEN, a leading global window and door manufacturer. “Although public voting is only one factor in the decision for selecting the winning lighthouse, these results are a strong indicator of how people have rallied behind JELD-WEN’s initiative to help restore these historic landmarks.”

According to Richter, the enthusiasm generated by all 12 finalists is natural, given the history, character and the special place these buildings hold within their communities.

Candidates this year include a lighthouse that battled the brutal elements of Hurricane Katrina and another where a “phantom” lighthouse keeper is rumored to be in residence. This year’s finalists also range in age from a lighthouse that is 181 years old to the “youngest” at 100 years old. For most, resources are scarce to provide the care and restoration that are greatly needed. Photos and other interesting facts about the finalists are provided below.

“It’s fantastic that JELD-WEN is leading this type of initiative,” said Henry Gonzalez, vice president of the United States Lighthouse Society and manager of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, a previous winner. “Architecturally and historically, these are all special places. They are all deserving. It’s very gratifying to see so many people step up, voice their support and show how much they care about what happens to lighthouses in their communities.”

The countdown begins
Midway through the public voting process, the race for the most reliable lighthouse is far from over. The opportunity is still open for any one of the 12 finalists to become the people’s choice. Before naming the winner, JELD-WEN’s judging panel will also consider need, overall restoration program and other factors. In the end, the top choice will receive new, reliable, custom windows and doors from JELD-WEN to help restore the architectural integrity and provide the latest protection against the brutal weather conditions that lighthouses endure.

To learn more about the finalists and cast a vote, visit www.jeld-wen.com/lighthouse by Sept. 7. Each person may cast one vote throughout the full duration of the initiative. Photos and videos of the lighthouse finalists are also being accepted to help JELD-WEN gauge community support. Photos can be shared on the Flickr group of the JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative. To share videos that will be posted online, please send 1-2 minute VHS tapes, DVDs or electronic viewing files to:

Attn: Stefanie Stockton
CMD Agency
1631 NW Thurman Street
Portland, OR 97209
503-488-4400
sstockton@cmdagency.com

A new chapter in lighthouse history
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, more than 670 lighthouses dot the coastlines of the United States. Many are challenged by extreme weather conditions and lack sufficient funding for restoration efforts to properly protect and maintain their structures.

The JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative began in 2005 as a way to preserve these beloved U.S. landmarks with the latest in window and door technology, and help restore the original architecture and performance of the historic structures. The winner in 2008 will follow in the footsteps of three impressive beacons: Umpqua River Lighthouse on Oregon’s southern coastline, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Maryland on Chesapeake Bay, and Wind Point Lighthouse in Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan.

About JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN, inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant with 15 employees in 1960 and has grown to more than 20,000 employees in nearly 150 locations worldwide. Today the company manufactures a full breadth of windows, doors and garage doors, and has earned numerous awards and endorsements for reliability, innovation and excellence. For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN® products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482, ext. PR036.