Interact: Sweepstakes  

NO PURCHASE OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Entry into The Home Depot Home Town Hero Internet Essay Contest ("Contest") constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules.

ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, except where prohibited by law ("Entrant"). You may not participate if you are not a legal U.S. resident and physically located within the U.S. at the time of entry. Individuals employed by Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. ("Sponsor"), its affiliate companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, Country Music Television Inc. or judges (collectively "Contest Parties") at any time during the Contest Period, and members of their immediate family or persons living in the same household, are not eligible.

HOW TO ENTER (ONLINE ONLY): Between May 8, 2006 through June 2, 2006, 11:59PM EST ("Contest Period") visit www.homedepot.com/acm (the "Website") and complete the official electronic entry form and write an essay, not to exceed 1000 words describing why, based upon volunteerism efforts, either the Entrant or the Entrant's nominee should be The Home Depot Hometown Hero. Any other method of online or Internet entry is void. For purposes of this Contest, "receipt" of an internet entry occurs when Sponsor's servers record the entry information resulting from the entrant clicking the "Submit Entry" button. Automated entries (including but not limited to entries submitted using any robot, script, macro, or other automated service) are not permitted and will be disqualified. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. All winners must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in these rules in order to qualify for the prize. Limit one entry per person per email address. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, incomplete or illegible entries. Sponsor is not responsible for any failure of the website during the Contest Period, including any telephone problems or technical malfunction of any computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received on account of traffic congestion on the internet or at the website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to an Entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any material related to the Contest, all of which may affect a person's ability to participate in the Contest. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY'S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PARTICIPANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. By participating in this Contest, Entrants agree to release and hold harmless Contest Parties and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, representatives, agents and employees, from any and all liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising from or in connection with, either directly or indirectly, 1) the awarding, acceptance, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of any prize awarded herein; or 2) participation in the Contest or any prize related activities, including but not limited to traveling to or from any prize related activity. Sponsor expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for injury or loss to any person or property relating to the delivery and/or subsequent use of prizes awarded. Sponsor makes no representation or warranties concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prizes awarded.

JUDGING: Winners will be selected by a panel of Sponsor's Marketing Managers on or around July 5, 2006 from all eligible entries received by the dates specified above, based equally upon the following criteria: originality and creativity of volunteer efforts and community commitment and dedication. The decisions of the judges will be final and binding on all participants. The odds of being a winner will depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period. In the event of a tie a "tie-breaker" judge will determine the winners from among all such tied entries using the judging criteria above. The decisions of the Sponsors and judges will be final and binding on all matters.

ORIGINAL WORK: All Contest essays must be original works. Entrant represents and agrees that its Contest Entry will not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party, including by way of example and not by limitation, any copyright, trademark or patent rights belonging to any third party.

PRIZES:

Grand Prize: One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a 3 day / 2 night trip for two (2) (winner and companion) to attend a KaBOOM!! Playground Project and meet the 2006 The Home Depot Humanitarian Award Winner, Vince Gill on a date and location selected by Vince Gill for the KaBOOM! Playground Project and a 3 day / 2 night trip for two (2) (winner and companion) to Las Vegas, NV to attend the 2007 Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. KaBOOM! Playground Project prize includes round trip coach class air transportation for two (2) from a major U.S. airport close to winner's home (carrier and airport to be selected by Sponsor) to the location and on the dates selected by Vince Gill for the KaBOOM! Playground Project; hotel accommodations (one room, standard, double occupancy) for two nights at a hotel selected by Sponsor in the city of the KaBOOM! Playground Project; and ground transportation (to and from the KaBOOM! Playground Project and to and from the airport). 2007 Annual Academy of Country Music Awards prize includes round trip coach class air transportation for two (2) from a major U.S. airport close to winner's home (carrier and airport to be selected by Sponsor) to Las Vegas, NV; hotel accommodations (one room, standard, double occupancy) for two nights a hotel in the location of the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2007; and ground transportation (to and from airport). The winner is responsible for transportation costs to the airport nearest to their home. All other expenses not specifically mentioned herein (including without limitation ground transportation, gratuities and meals) shall be the responsibility of the winner. Certain travel restrictions may apply. Winner and guest must travel on same itinerary. Approximate Retail Value (AVR) $4,000.00.

First Place Prize: One (1) First Prize winner will receive a The Home Depot Gift Card valued at Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). ARV $500.

Second Place Prize: Fifty (50) Second Prize winners will receive a The Home Depot Gift Card valued at Ten Dollars ($10.00). ARV $500.

Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsor's agent and will be airlines and hotels of Sponsor's choice. The winner and his/her guest must be available to travel together on dates and times as specified by Sponsor, and must travel on same itinerary, or prize will be forfeited. Travel guests for all events must be 18 years of age or older at the date of departure. Prizes are non-transferable, with no cash redemption or equivalent. All federal, state and local income taxes, insurance, licensing, registration and title fees connected to the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Actual value of prizes will vary based upon location of departure and airfare and hotel price fluctuations. Any difference between stated value and actual value will not be awarded. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Sponsor and Administrator expressly disclaim any responsibility or liability for injury or loss to any person or property relating to the delivery and/or subsequent use of prizes awarded. Sponsor makes no representation or warranties concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prizes awarded. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute ground transportation in the event winner lives fewer than 200 miles from destination location.

CLAIMING PRIZE: Potential winners will be notified by Sponsor within 15 days of determination either by the telephone number or e-mail address provided on his/her Official Entry Form. Winners must also meet all eligibility requirements, including the execution and return of all necessary releases. All properly claimed prizes will be awarded. As a condition of winning the prizes, the winner must complete, sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release, where permitted by law, and any other applicable forms required by a taxing authority within ten (10) days of receipt of written prize notification or prizes will be forfeited and an alternate winner selected. Further, by accepting the prize, the winner consents to Sponsor's use of their name, photograph and/or likeness, address, voice, and statements made by or attributed to them, in perpetuity, in any and all media now known or hereafter developed (including, without limitation, print, broadcast and Internet), for all legitimate business purposes including advertising and promotional activities without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. Upon delivery of the prize to the winner, Sponsor will be deemed to have awarded the prize to the winner with winner assuming full responsibility for the prize. If any correspondence of the Contest judge or any prize is returned as undeliverable, the corresponding prize will be forfeited and will be awarded to an alternate winner. Should a winner make any false statement(s) in any document referenced above, the winner will be required to promptly return to Sponsor his/her prize. In the event there is a dispute of the entrant's identity, the prize will be awarded to the established email account associated with the entry.

RELEASE: By receipt of any prize, winner agrees to release and hold harmless Country Music Television Inc., Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies and each of their respective parent companies and each such company's officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against and claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Sponsor is not responsible for 1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing error or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the sweepstakes; 2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; 3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; 4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or 5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Entrant's participation in the Contest or receipt or misuse of any prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS: By participating, Entrants agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges, which shall be final and binding with respect to all issues relating to this Contest. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have complied with all of the conditions contained in the Official Rules. If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and select winners from among all eligible entries prior to the cancellation. Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of this Contest, or whom Sponsor believes to be causing malfunction, error, disruption or damage will be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to correct any typographical, printing, computer programming or operator errors.

PRIVACY: When you participate in a survey or enter a contest or sweepstakes at a Store, a Home Depot sponsored event or through our Sites, we may collect your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. We use this information to administer your participation in a contest or sweepstakes. At the time you are entering a contest or sweepstakes, we may ask your permission to send you future marketing information from Home Depot. We want to assure you that Home Depot is dedicated to protecting your privacy. You can contact us or otherwise communicate your privacy concerns by:

• calling us at 1-800-553-3199
• faxing us at 1-877-496-9470
• e-mailing us at customercare@homedepot.com
• accessing your registration information on our Sites
• registering or changing your privacy preferences at www.homedepot.com/privacypreferences
• writing us at the address below (please include your e-mail address and phone number with your correspondence along with the information needed to support your request):

The Home Depot, Inc.
Attention: Privacy Official
Customer Care
2455 Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30339-4024

SPONSORS: This Contest is sponsored by Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339.

OFFICIAL RULES AND WINNERS' NAMES REQUESTS: For a copy of the official rules visit the Website. For a list of winners, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: "The Home Depot Home Town Hero Internet Essay Contest", The Home Depot Event Marketing Department, 2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339 between 8/1/06 and 11/30/06.

CHOICE OF LAW: Under no circumstances will entrants be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrants hereby waive all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, and entrants further waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and Sponsor in connection with this Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Georgia without regard to Georgia conflict of law principles.

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