page_title: Alex McLeod
section_title: Philanthropy
hierarchical_section_title: Alex McLeod / Philanthropy
caption_attribution_description: English: California Governor Brown, Alex McLeod and John Z. Blazevich at GRID Alternatives LA Solar Installation Long Beach, CA May 17, 2013.
context_page_description: Alexandra Ann McLeod is an American television host and entertainment news correspondent best known for being the original host of TLC’s hit cable show Trading Spaces. She got her start as a comedic actress and hosted the first forty episodes of the reality-based home improvement series that launched the makeover show phenomenon.
context_section_description: McLeod has been actively involved with several charities in Southern California (UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity and GRID Alternatives) and she has said giving back to her community has been what she considers one of her greatest accomplishments.
  SInce 2001, McLeod has worked as a fundraiser for several charity events benefiting UNICEF and she has given motivational speeches in 
  K-12 schools to encourage America's children to help children at risk in developing nations as part of UNICEF's annual "Trick or Treat" campaign. In 2004 the Southern California chapter of UNICEF gave McLeod a President's Volunteer Award issued by The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in recognition of her "commitment to the strengthening of the nation and making a difference through volunteer service".
  Since 2004, McLeod has lent her home-improvement skills to many Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Blitz Builds over the years including a Power Women, Power Tools Build hosted by First Lady of California, Maria Shriver.  McLeod's Trading Spaces background also came in handy in 2005 when she partnered with Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church to create a sizeable charity decorating/furniture drive for 15 Katrina families seeking refuge in her hometown of Galveston. McLeod spent several weeks with the recipients and personally delivered the items with Moody Memorial church volunteers.
  In 2007, McLeod participated in the Los Angeles Habitat for Humanity-Jimmy Carter Work Project as a volunteer builder and co-host of a reception honoring 39th President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.
  In 2008 McLeod returned to Galveston to help other hurricane families hardest hit by Ike, both as an emcee and fundraiser for a Hurricane Ike benefit concert for the Moody Gardens Hotel featuring the Beach Boys.
  McLeod traveled to Haiti in 2011 with Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles and partners to gain firsthand knowledge of the effects of the 2010 devastating earthquake and the ongoing needs of Haitian people. In 2013, McLeod hosted a women's luncheon and fundraiser in Palos Verdes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Greater LA benefiting Habitat for Humanity International's Haitian rebuilding efforts in the Santo and Simon-Pele communities near Port Au Prince. 
  McLeod is a board member of GRID Alternatives LA and recently teamed with California Governor Jerry Brown and other local politicians in 2013 at a Long Beach solar panel installation in support of California's Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes program, which provides low-income families with solar energy.
caption: California Governor Jerry Brown, Alex McLeod and John Z. Blazevich at GRID Alternatives LA Solar Installation Long Beach, CA
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "QuickTime 7.7.1", "Image DateTime": "2013:06:27 11:26:46", "Image Artist": "David Schmitz", "Image Copyright": "David Schmitz Photography", "Image ExifOffset": "214", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "683", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "416"}