Press

Lake Michigan Credit Union launches 2nd annual $25,000 Home Makeover Giveaway.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (March 4, 2013) – Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) is pleased to announce the launch of its second $25,000 Home Makeover Giveaway, featuring LMCU spokesperson, Carter Oosterhouse.

Mr. Oosterhouse is nationally recognized for his work on a number of cable TV programs dealing with home renovation, design and community outreach. He is a Traverse City, MI native, and a Lake Michigan Credit Union customer.

Last year’s $25,000 giveaway generated a great deal of response, with over 112,000 entries submitted – both online and by in-branch paper entries – and was won by Grand Rapids native, Kim Millard.

This year’s giveaway follows a similar path. It can be entered online at lmcu.org, or personally at any LMCU branch location. Entrants can also increase their odds when friends enter the giveaway through a FaceBook link.

Senior Vice President of Marketing, Don Bratt said the campaign launched March 3, 2014. “Anyone can enter – it’s open to the public – and will run until April 30, with a single drawing to be held May 17. The winner will not only get a $25,000 cash prize, but also advice from Carter about design ideas and eco-friendly building tips.”

LMCU’s campaign will stretch across multiple media, including television, radio, print, outdoor, point of sale (POS), internet, social networks and member communications.

Bratt is pleased to again partner with Oosterhouse saying, “Carter and LMCU is a very natural match. He’s all about improving people’s lives by building lasting value with the right tools and innovative techniques. That philosophy meshes nicely with our focus on delivering value through superior products and services. We have complimentary goals, and this is a natural partnership.”

Carter Oosterhouse History and Career Highlights:

Carter’s career as a carpenter began at the age of 12, when he began as an apprentice to his neighbor. He continued to work in carpentry and construction throughout school, following in the footsteps of his older brothers (Todd and Tyler), who are also carpenters. Oosterhouse has a B.A. in nutrition and communication from Central Michigan University, and is married to actress Amy Smart.

In 2003, Carter joined TLC’s series Trading Spaces in its fourth season. In that same year, TLC also added the spin-offs Trading Spaces: Family and Trading Spaces: Boys V. Girls to their programs, which allowed him the opportunity to work with children.
In 2004, Carter did an episode of CBS Sunday Morning in New York in which he remodeled correspondent Bill Geist’s office with the help of commentator Andy Rooney.
In 2005, Oosterhouse was a contributor to NBC’s show Three Wishes, a primetime unscripted series with Amy Grant, in which he visited small towns across America to help wishes come true.
Carter has been featured as an expert for programs including: Rachael Ray, The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, CNN, Entertainment Tonight and Extra.
In Fall 2007, Oosterhouse began two new shows, Carter Can, a home improvement show premiering on October 4 on HGTV, and The Inside Job, a behind-the-scenes view of Carter Can, which offered homeowners take away
In early 2008, a second show was added on the HGTV network, Red Hot & Green, with Nicole Facciuto, on which Carter promotes eco-friendly materials for earth-friendly living.
Oosterhouse is also the host of the HGTV network show Million Dollar Rooms, showcasing the extravagant and over-the-top and extravagant features of some of America’s most elaborately built homes.

Founded in 1933, Lake Michigan Credit Union is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Michigan, and its second largest credit union. With a staff of over 800, LMCU’s assets now exceed $3.1 billion, with over 272,000 customers. LMCU now has 37 convenient branch locations – including Traverse City, Farmington Hills and Troy – and nearly 100 ATMs in west Michigan, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph – plus dedicated mortgage offices in Saginaw and Livonia. LMCU provides a full-range of financial services, from high interest-bearing checking accounts to mortgages, commercial loans, insurance and investment services. Anyone in Michigan can open an account. To find out more, please visit www.lmcu.org.