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Housing Success Story: Alliance brings 40 homes in four years to Milwaukee’s inner city
Thrivent Financial and Milwaukee Habitat begin week-long building effort in Harambee
| MILWAUKEE, Wis. (May 7, 2009) – Sounds of hammers and a daily surge of volunteers and future first-time homeowners will fill Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood beginning Monday, May 11. That’s when Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are hosting their fourth annual “Thrivent Builds with Habitat Week.” Thrivent Financial members and other Lutheran volunteers will work alongside Habitat partner families to jump start the construction of the 10 Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity homes being built in the Harambee neighborhood in 2009.
Eight homes will be under construction May 11 - 15 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with the ninth and tenth homes getting underway this summer. The homes will be located in the 3000 block of N. Richards Street, the 200 block of E. Burleigh Street and the 3100 block of N. Buffum Street in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood. Click here to learn more about the 10 partner families who will become the new owners of the 2009 Thrivent Builds homes. 40 Homes in Four Years This is the fourth consecutive year Thrivent Financial has provided both financial and volunteer resources to increase Milwaukee Habitat’s annual home-building capacity. This commitment is possible through Thrivent Financial’s approximately 2.6 million members who own financial products with the organization and those who are involved in their local Thrivent chapters. Because of their membership, Thrivent Financial is able to contribute to the improvement of communities through a national alliance with Habitat for Humanity International. By the end of 2009, Thrivent Financial will have contributed more than $2.6 million, or 65 percent of the building costs, to help Milwaukee Habitat provide 40 low-income Milwaukee families with decent, affordable housing. • 2009 – 10 homes in Harambee – $704,275 from Thrivent Financial • 2008 – 10 homes in Harambee – $689,980 from Thrivent Financial • 2007 – 10 homes in Harambee – $646,360 from Thrivent Financial • 2006 – 10 homes in Washington Park – $639,100 from Thrivent Financial The remaining funding is generated by local Thrivent chapters, Habitat affiliates and other supporters. “These contributions speak to Thrivent Financial’s mission of helping individuals and families achieve financial security and give back to their community,” said Thomas Bruckner, managing partner for Thrivent Financial’s Southeast Wisconsin Region. “It is our hope that these 40 homes will provide a foundation for their owners to continue to grow more financially secure.” “Thrivent Builds is a remarkable alliance,” said Sara Kierzek, executive director of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, “with both the financial and volunteer support from Thrivent Financial and its members, we have been able to increase our capacity from 25 to 35 homes for the fourth year now—which is 40 percent growth.” Equally important to making these 40 homes possible are the volunteers who contribute their time, talents and generous hearts to help build homes with Habitat partner families. As in years past, Thrivent Financial members from across southeast Wisconsin, Thrivent Financial Representatives and other volunteers will join the home-building effort in the Harambee neighborhood. Many of the volunteers have been recruited by Ric Simon, a Thrivent Financial Representative and very active Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Simon has been involved in Thrivent Builds Week since the beginning in 2006, organizing volunteers, swinging his hammer and encouraging others to be a part of the benevolent block party. Click here to learn more about Simon and the hours logged over the past four years by volunteers. Harambee Neighborhood Revitalization The construction of these 10 homes in 2009 is part of larger holistic revitalization plan in the Harambee community to benefit the neighborhood through housing, redevelopment and education. This plan was created by the Harambee Great Neighborhood Steering Committee, a coalition consisting of residents and community organizations, including Milwaukee Habitat and Thrivent Financial. As the catalyst of this transformation, Thrivent Financial and its Foundation has invested $3.6 million in the Harambee neighborhood over the past three years including a planning grant and a $1 million implementation grant. In addition to the new homes, revitalization already includes growth in arts and culture, events in the park and community gardens, and repairs and clean-ups of Harambee storefronts. Wall-Raising & Kick-off Rally On Monday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and other government officials will join leaders from Milwaukee Habitat, Thrivent Financial, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Harambee Great Neighborhood Steering Committee to help raise a wall on a Thrivent Builds with Habitat home construction site. Following the wall-raising, leaders will speak to volunteers and neighbors during a kick-off rally at 10:00 a.m., May 11 at 3000 North Richards Street, Milwaukee. The rally will celebrate the beginning of an exciting week of construction. Milwaukee Brewers & Brewers Charities team up with Thrivent Builds to support partner families and create fan awareness of the alliance later in May In past years, volunteers have also framed a house in the parking lot at Miller Park during Thrivent Builds with Habitat Week. This year, however, the Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers Charities, and Thrivent Financial will instead host a “Thrivent Builds Night at the Game” on Saturday, May 30. Before the Brewers take on the Cincinnati Reds, thousands of Thrivent Financial members from all over Wisconsin and other Brewers’ fans will have a chance to enjoy tailgating, free tours of the Thrivent Builds Mobile, set up near the Miller Park clock tower, games, children’s activities and prizes. Additionally, Brewers Charities will join Thrivent Financial on the field for a pre-game ceremony, where Brewers Charities will recognize 12 Milwaukee Habitat partner families by presenting $500 Lowe`s gift cards for the families to purchase items that will help make their house a home. Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a $125 million alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. The alliance makes Thrivent Financial one of Habitat’s largest allies and aims to increase Habitat’s annual house production by hundreds of homes per year. To date more than 1,000 homes have been built in the U.S. and hundreds of volunteer teams have helped build homes around the world. For more information, visit www.thriventbuilds.com. Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need. Since 1984, Milwaukee Habitat has worked with 390 families to build or rehabilitate homes. By year end that total will be 425 families! For more information, visit www.milwaukeehabitat.org. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Southeast Wisconsin Region Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping approximately 2.6 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. 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. Locally, The Southeast Wisconsin Regional Financial Office is made up of 90 financial representatives and provides financial products and services to more than 107,000 members in Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties. Together with its members, Thrivent Financial’s Southeast Wisconsin Region provided more than $9 million in charitable outreach in 2008. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com or www.lutheransonline.com/rfo300. |
| Contact Information: | |
| Stacy Eckes-Borys Senior Media Relations Specialist stacy.eckes-borys@thrivent.com Phone: (920) 628-2445 | |
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