Thrivent Builds With Habitat for Humanity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County joins $9.2 million national home-building effort in 2012

GASTONIA, NC (Dec. 15, 2011) – Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County (Habitat Gaston) learned recently that it has been awarded $41,525 to build a home in Gaston County.

This grant, providing 55 percent of the cost of construction, comes from Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity International: Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. In addition to the Thrivent Grant, the Gaston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and local community will provide $7,550 at least 50% of the volunteers.

Habitat Gaston is celebrating their award in conjunction with an international announcement made Dec. 5, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., when the partnership’s $160 million mark was surpassed with a $9.2 million commitment for 2012, the seventh year of a strong alliance between the two organizations.

Habitat for Humanity’s relationship with Thrivent Financial brings the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. To date, more than 480,000 volunteers have donated more than three million hours to construct 1,600 homes in the U.S.

The 2012 commitment will fund the construction and rehabilitation of 142 Habitat for Humanity homes in 32 U.S. states, including the home built by Habitat Gaston in Gastonia. Locally, the Gaston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Southeast Regional field office of Thrivent Financial will supply member and employee volunteers.

“The Thrivent Builds alliance is building its 7th home with Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County,” said Mary Harris, Executive Director. “As the only affiliate and local Thrivent chapter team to receive funding for each year of the national partnership, we are especially grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need.”

Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since its founding in 1988, Habitat-Gaston partnered with a number of churches, organizations and individuals to build or renovate 93 homes. The homes have positively impacted local communities of the county and given hope to Gaston County families.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat's largest single source of funding, constructing more than 2,700 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.5 million members achieve financial security and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial creates and supports national outreach programs and activities that help congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. Also, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

~ 1/26/2012