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Thrivent Financial, Habitat for Humanity International To Build 355 Homes
By James Comtois
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Minneapolis-based non-profit membership organization helping nearly 3 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities, is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build 355 homes in 43 states with families in need in 2007. The alliance, called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, has committed $24.5 million to building these homes.
Thrivent Financial became Habitat for Humanity International's ally in 2006 as a result of a four-year $105 million commitment to help increase the non-profit housing ministry's home building production. In the first year of the alliance, 313 families in 43 states and Washington, D.C. achieved homeownership.
In addition, Thrivent Financial rallied its national network of nearly 3 million members to volunteer. The alliance gives local Habitat affiliates the opportunity to work with more low-income families toward achieving Habitat's mission of eliminating substandard housing.
In its second year, the alliance is again increasing Habitat's home production by working with 256 Habitat affiliates to build the 355 homes.
Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, said in a statement that with its alliance with Thrivent, Habitat projects a 6% increase in the number of U.S. homes built in 2006. "Habitat for Humanity is grateful for its alliance with Thrivent," he said. "Working with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its volunteers has been a true blessing."
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity brings together two national nonprofit networks of 1,699 Habitat affiliates and 1,362 Thrivent volunteer chapters. The need for an effort of this magnitude is great, as more than 13 million U.S. households use at least half of their income to pay for housing and millions more live in overcrowded conditions or housing with severe physical deficiencies, such as having no hot water, electricity or toilet.
In addition to the U.S., Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity also sends volunteers around the world to build Habitat homes with families in need. Thrivent Financial members went on 38 trips this year. Thrivent Builds with Habitat is also raising awareness about substandard housing issues through its Thrivent Builds Mobile. The mobile exhibit has been to 22 states giving more than 40,000 visitors a powerful experience designed to educate and call communities to action to support decent, affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga. in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing shelter for more than 1 million people.
As a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. Its main offices are in Minneapolis, Minn. and Appleton, Wis.
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