Thrivent Awards Grant to Rowan County Habitat

12/09/10
Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County celebrates continued support for affordable housing efforts in 2011. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is providing $10.4 million in funding to Habitat Affiliates.

Locally, Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County is receiving $41,415.00 in funding to help build a house in East Spencer, North Carolina as part of Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity in 2011.

Nationally, Thrivent Financial announced a commitment of $10.4 million to Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity and its homebuilding program, continuing its support of Habitat's mission for a sixth year. This funding will make the construction of 164 additional homes in 33 states possible.

In 2011, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, through its unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity International called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, will surpass more than $150 million in its total commitment over six years to create affordable housing . Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County has built five houses in past years as part of that effort. The 2011 Thrivent Builds grant award will create the sixth house and the first one to be constructed in East Spencer.

"The Thrivent Builds partnership has helped Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County to increase the number of families served in our community," said Coleman Emerson, Habitat's Executive Director. "We are so grateful for Thrivent Financial's support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need."

While Thrivent Financial provides at least 55 percent of the funding for each Thrivent Builds home, local volunteers—many of them Thrivent Financial members and members of area Lutheran congregations—assist with construction and help raise additional funds.

Since its inception in 2005, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 2,500 families in the U.S. and around the world achieve the dream of homeownership. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to be one of the largest non-government supporters of Habitat for Humanity International.

About Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County
Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County is a local, Christian Housing Ministry. We are a grassroots Ministry founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety. We strive to eliminate poverty housing by having persons from all walks of life work together to build houses for families in need in Rowan County. We are affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International.

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 who lack decent shelter, 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 nearly 2,500 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 2.6 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 including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank products and more. 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 is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.