Free Rent 2024 Contest Guidelines
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
Any individual (each such individual is hereinafter referred to as a “Participant”) who enters, attempts to enter or in any way participates or attempts to participate in the Free Rent Contest (“Contest”) conducted by Roots Real Estate Investment Community I, LLC (“Roots”) in partnership with Helping Hands of GA Metro (“Helping Hands”) agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions provided in these Official Contest Rules (“Contest Rules”), as well as by Roots’ interpretations of these Contest Rules which are final and binding in all matters.
1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN:
No purchase is necessary to enter or win a prize. A purchase will also not improve your chances of winning.
2. ELIGIBILITY:
Geographical and Age Requirements: The Contest is open to legal residents of the state of Georgia who are at least 21 years of age or older at time of entry. Participants must be tenants or rent property within a 20-mile radius of the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contest Entity and Immediate Family Member Disqualification: The officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents of Roots, Helping Hands and any entity involved in the sponsorship, development, production, implementation and distribution of the Contest as well as their respective parents, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries and successor companies (all such persons and entities, including Roots and Helping Hands, collectively referred to herein as, the “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members (and those living in the same household, whether or not related), are prohibited from participating in the Contest and do not qualify as Participants. “Immediate family members'' shall include spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws”, or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, cohabitation or other familial extension.
Helping Hands: If a Participant is selected as a Semi-Finalist (as discussed further
below in these Contest Rules) the Participant will be required to submit an application (including, but not limited to, evidence of a valid government issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, or military ID), to Helping Hands in order to be eligible to win the Contest. Helping Hands’ independent board of directors will determine, in their sole and absolute discretion, if a Participant’s application is approved (and therefore, eligible to win the Contest) or denied (and therefore, ineligible to win the Contest).
Roots Residents: Residents of any properties owned and/or managed by Roots or any of its affiliates are eligible to enter and win the Contest.
Employer Restrictions: Participant is solely responsible for reviewing and understanding Participant’s employer’s policies regarding Participant’s eligibility to participate in contests. Participant may be disqualified from entering into this Contest or receiving prizes if Participant is participating in this Contest in violation of his or her employer’s policies.
3. CONTEST PERIOD:
Entries will be accepted online starting on or about November 20, 2023 and ending December 8, 2023. All online entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on December 8, 2023.
4. TO ENTER:
Proceed to the Roots website (www.investwithroots.com/freerentatl) (“Website”) and complete the online entry form in its entirety. The entry must fulfill all Contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are not complete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Roots. After a Participant enters the Contest via the online entry form, the Contest will be conducted in three sequential phases: (1) Semi-Finalist Selection, (2) Finalist Selection, and (3) Finalist Vote.
No Multiple Entries: A Participant may enter only once, and the Participant must fill in the information requested. A Participant may not enter more times than indicated by using multiple email addresses, identities, or devices in an attempt to circumvent the rules. If a Participant uses fraudulent methods or otherwise attempt to circumvent the rules, such Participant’s submission may be removed from eligibility at the sole discretion of Roots.
False Fraudulent or Deceptive Entries or Acts: Participants who, in the view of Roots,
provide false, fraudulent, or deceptive entries or who engage in false, fraudulent or deceptive acts in connection with the Contest will be disqualified and subject to criminal prosecution.
5. WINNER SELECTION:
Determining the Semi-Finalists: From all eligible entries received, Roots will select twenty (20) Semi-Finalists, in Roots’ sole and absolute discretion. Roots will conduct one-on-one meetings with the Semi-Finalists to understand their situations. All potential Semi-Finalists will be notified starting on or about December 9, 2023 to December 16, 2023 and are subject to verification, including without limitation, verification of eligibility, compliance with these Contest Rules, completion of all required documents, and a personal background check (“Review Process”). As part of the Review Process, Semi-Finalists must submit an application to Helping Hands. The application to Helping Hands will be accepted or denied by the independent board of Helping Hands, in its sole discretion. If Helping Hands denies a Participant’s application, such Participant will not be eligible to win the Contest. Once the twenty (20) potential Semi-Finalists have cleared the Review Process, they will be declared the Semi-Finalists. Participants agree that Roots has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Contest and that all decisions of Roots are final and binding. Roots reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to select fewer than twenty (20) Semi-Finalists.
Determining the Finalists: Out of the pool of Semi-Finalists, Roots will select nine (9) Finalists. It is required that each Finalist’s application to Helping Hands was accepted. Roots will assist each Finalist in producing a video telling their story (“Video”). All Finalists are subject to verification, including without limitation, verification of eligibility, compliance with these Contest Rules, completion of all required documents and a personal background check. Participants agree that Roots has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Contest and that all decisions of Roots are final and binding. Roots reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to select fewer than nine (9) Finalists if, in its sole discretion, any of the Finalists chosen are found to be ineligible or do not have a qualified entry. All Finalists will be notified starting on or about December 10, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
Determining the Winners: The Finalists’ Videos will be posted on investwithroots.com/free-rent and various social media platforms including, without limitation, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo and/or TikTok for public viewing. People will then be able to vote on the Website for their preferred Finalist. The voting period will start on or about December 14, 2023 and end December 28, 2023 (the “Voting Period”). Voting will close on 11:59 PM EST on December 28, 2023. The three (3) Finalists with the highest total votes will be declared the Winners. The Winners will be notified at the conclusion of the Voting Period. The Winners are subject to verification, including without limitation, verification of eligibility, compliance with these Contest Rules, completion of all required documents and a personal background check. Upon being declared a winner, in order to accept the prize (detailed below) individuals agree to willingly participate in follow-up interviews with Roots and/or Helping Hands after 6 months and 1 year. Participants agree that Roots has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Contest and that all decisions of Roots are final and binding. Roots reserves the right not to award a Winner, if, in its sole discretion, the Grand-Prize Winner is found to be ineligible or does not have a qualified Entry.
6. VIDEOS:
Participant irrevocably grants Roots and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns, agents and licensees, the unconditional and perpetual right and permission to reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, publicly perform, adapt, exhibit and/or otherwise use, modify, or reuse (without limitation as to when or to the number of times used), the Video (in each case, as submitted or as edited/modified in any way by Roots, in its sole discretion), as well as to use Participant’s Likeness and/or statements regarding their participation in this Contest (with or without using the Participant’s name) in any and all media without limitation as to time or territory, and without additional compensation or approval from the Participant or any other party. Participant waives intellectual property rights, privacy/publicity rights or other legal or moral rights that might preclude Roots’, or its affiliate(s), use of the Video, and agrees not to sue or assert any claim against Roots for the use of the Video or Participant’s Likeness or statements. Participant further represents and warrants that the Participant has obtained written permission from each person whose name, likeness and/or picture/photograph (“Likeness”) is included in the Video, and that such person(s) have granted Participant all necessary rights to use the person’s Likeness as described in these rules, and that Participant can make written copies of such permissions available to Roots upon request. Roots’ determination as to whether a Video potentially violates the rights of any third party is final. All Contest entries and/or related Videos become the sole and exclusive property of Roots upon transmission. Contest entries will not be returned and may be used by any Contest Entity for any purpose whatsoever related to any Contest, without additional compensation to the participant or any other individual or entity.
7. PRIZES:
Winners: The three (3) Winners will each win one (1) year of free rent, determined based on the value of the lease of the Winner, equivalent to up to $21,000 per Winner. The prize will be paid by Helping Hands directly to the Winner’s landlord identified in the lease provided by the Participant during the Review Process. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) is $21,000 for each Winner, or a total of $63,000. No substitution or cash equivalent of prizes is permitted except at Roots’ sole discretion. If a Winner’s lease ends during the year of 2024 and the Winner is entering into a new lease, if the Winner provides a copy of the new lease, then Helping Hands will pay the equivalent amount ($21,000) to the landlord identified in such lease. If a Winner’s lease has been breached after the prize has been rewarded, the Winner’s Landlord is to give the prepaid rent back to the Winner.
Semi-Finalists: The remaining six (6) Semi-Finalists who are not Winners will each receive $500 worth of Units in Roots. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) for each of the six (6) remaining Semi-Finalists is $500, or a total of $3,000. If a Semi-Finalist or Winner is unable to be notified for any reason for any amount of time, the applicable prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate Semi-Finalist or Winner, respectively. No transfer, assignment or substitution of a prize is permitted, except Roots, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to substitute a prize for an item of equal or greater value. Any difference between the actual value and the approximate retail value of any prize will not be awarded. No substitution or cash equivalent will be made. Roots reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the awarded prize in unavailable for any reason.
8. HOW TO CLAIM PRIZE:
Winner Selection and Notification: Winners and Semi-Finalists will be notified via email to the email address they entered the Contest within five (5) days following the winner selection. Notification is deemed to have occurred immediately at the time Roots transmits, messages, emails, or otherwise communicates such notification. Roots will only be required to send one email. Roots reserves the right, but not the obligation, to attempt to contact any Participant(s), Semi-Finalist(s), and/or Winner(s) more than once, in its sole and absolute discretion, and will not be required to attempt to contact Participant(s), Semi-Finalist(s), and/or Winner(s) an equal number of times or in the same manner. Roots is not responsible for any change of email address, mailing address, and/or telephone number of Participant(s), Semi- Finalist(s), and/or Winner(s). Roots is not responsible and shall not be liable for late, misdirected or unsuccessful efforts to notify any Participant(s), Semi-Finalist(s), and/or Winner(s), and in the case of minors, for late, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts of the Participant to provide signed parental or guardian consent. If a Semi-Finalist(s) and/or Winner(s) is unable to be notified for any reason for any amount of time, the applicable Prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. If a Semi-Finalist(s) and/or Winner(s) does not claim the Prize within the appropriate time given upon, the Participant will automatically be disqualified and their Prize will be forfeited. Roots shall have no liability for a Participant prize-winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for Participant’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If the selected Participant prize-winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize within 15 days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return completed and executed documents and releases as required, prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected.
Claiming the Prize: All Participant prize-winners agree to receive any prize, as applicable, digitally.
Multiple Users: In the event multiple users of the same mobile phone, email, website, app, or social media account, as applicable, enter the Contest and a dispute thereafter arises regarding the identity of the Participant, the Authorized Account Holder at the time of entry will be considered the Participant. For purposes of the Rules, “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the one (1) natural person who, in the case of a mobile phone or email account, is assigned the mobile phone number or email account by an Internet access provider, online service provider, telephone service provider or other organization which is responsible for assigning phone numbers or email addresses.
Prerequisites to Prize Award: Prior to being awarded a prize, winners are required to provide (1) a valid government-issued photo identification depicting proof of age and (2) a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number. The social security number may be used for tax-reporting purposes. Roots reserves the right to deny awarding the prize if the winner fails to provide satisfactory identification, as determined in Roots’ sole discretion.
Additional Costs: Any costs relating to the prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
9. AGREEMENT TO RULES:
By participating, Participant agrees to be fully unconditionally bound by these Contest Rules, and Participant represents and warrants that he or she meets the eligibility requirements set forth herein. In addition, Participant agrees to accept the decisions of Roots as final and binding as it relates to the content. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
10. APPLICABLE LAW (VOID WHERE PROHIBITED):
The Contest is subject to and governed by applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Participation in this Contest is void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Any dispute arising from the Contest shall be governed by the laws of Georgia without regard to its conflict of laws rules and the Superior Court located in Fulton County, State of Georgia shall have jurisdiction over any action arising from the Contest. With respect to any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Contest, the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the Superior Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia.
11. CONTEST CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION OR MODIFICATION:
Roots reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend any Contest if the Contest is not capable of being completed as planned for any reason (in Roots’ sole discretion), including, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, “bugs,” tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical failures of any kind or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest. The decision of Roots to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend any Contest shall be final in all respects. Roots reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or website or violates these Contest Rules.
12. PARTICIPATION PROBLEM DISCLAIMER:
Even if alleged to be caused by the sole or partial negligence of Roots or any of the other Contest Entities, Roots and the other Contest Entities are not responsible for any problems which affect, or result from, Participation or attempted Participation in the Contest. This includes, but is not limited to, the following problems:
● Incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate entry information;
● Human errors;
● Failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions or defects of any wireless network, telephone
network, internet service, computer systems, servers, utility providers, or software;
● Inability to send a text-message;
● Identity theft;
● Tampering, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or computer data;
● Network hackers or other unauthorized access to Roots’ computer network;
● Data that is processed late or incorrectly or is incomplete or lost due to wireless network, telephone network, computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on wireless or telephone networks;
● Printing errors;
● Equipment malfunctions; and
● Late, misdirected, lost, misplaced, illegible, mutilated or postage-due entries.
13. RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION:
As consideration for entering a Contest, all Participants agree to RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Roots, the other Contest Entities (as described above) and each of their respective direct and indirect affiliates, divisions, parent and subsidiary companies, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, managers, members, directors, owners, agents, insurers, attorneys, predecessors, successors, and assigns thereof (collectively, the Released Parties), from and against all claims, damages, charges, injuries, losses, proceedings, suits, actions (including but not limited to tort actions, product liability actions, wrongful death actions, warranty actions, breach of contract actions, privacy and defamation actions, misappropriation of likeness actions, identity theft, loss of consortium claims), expenses and attorney fees that they or anyone on their behalf (including but not limited to their heirs, representatives or next of kin) have or might have for any death, injury, damage or claimed injury or damage arising out of, involving or relating to their participation in the Contest, including, but not limited to, any claim that the act or omission complained of was caused in whole or in part by the strict liability or negligence in any form of the Released Parties. Additionally, as consideration for entering the Contest, all Participants agree to INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND the Released Parties in any action or proceeding from and against all claims, damages, charges, injuries, losses, proceedings, suits, actions (including but not limited to tort actions, product liability actions, wrongful death actions, warranty actions, breach of contract actions, privacy and defamation actions, misappropriation of likeness actions, identity theft, loss of consortium claims), expenses and attorney fees that they or anyone on their behalf (including but not limited to their heirs, representatives or next of kin) have or might have for any death, injury, damage or claimed injury or damage arising out of, involving or relating to their participation in the Contest or for their failure to comply with the terms of the above release provision. This agreement to indemnify, hold harmless and defend applies even if the act or omission complained of was allegedly caused in whole or in part by the strict liability or negligence in any form of the Released Parties. Further, Participant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Released Parties due to or arising out of the Video, or the Participant’s conduct in creating a Video or otherwise in connection with this Contest, including but not limited to claims for trademark infringement, copyright infringement; violation of an individual’s right of publicity or right of privacy; or defamation. Participant further agrees to release the Contest Entities from any and all claims that any advertising subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of Roots infringes Participant’s rights with regard to any elements, characters or ideas contained in any Video.
14. TAXES:
Any Participant who receives a prize hereunder is solely responsible for determining and paying all federal, state and local taxes (including any sales taxes), as applicable.
15. PUBLICITY RELEASE: Unless prohibited by applicable law, Participant authorizes and irrevocably grants to Roots and the other Released Parties (as defined above) permission to, from time to time, reference and discuss Participant and their participation in the Contest in publications and/or on their website(s) in photographs, video recordings, digital images, audio recordings, as well as in newsletters, news releases, other printed materials, and in materials made available on the Internet or in other media now known or hereafter developed for any purpose Roots and/or the Released Parties deem proper. Such reference and discussion may involve Participant’s name and voice, and other personal/biographical material or their participation on-air.
16. DISQUALIFICATION:
All Participants agree to be bound by these Contest Rules. Non-compliance with any of these Contest Rules will result in disqualification and all privileges as a Participant will be immediately terminated. Roots, in its sole discretion, further reserves the right to disqualify any person for: (i) tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; (ii) gaining an unfair advantage in participating in the Contest; (iii) obtaining winner status using false, fraudulent or deceptive means; or (iv) engaging in otherwise unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing, or threatening behavior.
17. CAUTION:
ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY CIRCUMVENT, DISRUPT OR DAMAGE ORDINARY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONTEST, TELEPHONE SYSTEMS OR WEB SITE,
OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF ANY CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, ROOTS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
18. RULES CHANGES AND INTERPRETATIONS:
Roots reserves the right in its sole discretion to supplement or make changes to these Contest Rules as well as the rules of any contest at any time without notice. Roots reserves the right in its sole discretion to interpret the rules of any contest, and such interpretation shall be binding upon all participants.
19. CONTEST RULES/LIST OF WINNERS:
Copies of these Contest Rules may be found on the Website. For a list of the Semi-Finalists, Finalists, and Winners, visit www.investwithroots.com/freerentatl or send a self-addressed envelope to: 1344 La France, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 c/o Daniel Dorfman.
20. SOCIAL MEDIA DISCLOSURE:
This Contest is no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo or TikTok. Each Participant specifically release Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo or TikTok from any and all liability associated with this Contest.