“Rebuilding Together is honored to be working with Lowe’s and NBC’s ‘Smash: Make a Musical’ to help deliver critical repairs at East Rockaway High School, including replacing the staging and flooring in the auditorium,” said John L. Fiegel, interim president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “Separately, as part of the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, [we are] working toward a longer-term rebuild goal of more than 100 homes in the affected regions. Our affiliates in the New York, New Jersey and other areas are identifying and assessing neighborhoods and homeowners and community centers, which may need our assistance.”

“I’m grateful that we were able to find somebody to make this happen for the students,” Melucci said. “I felt my students really needed something to bring them to life after all they went through — and they will take this experience with them for a lifetime.”