Building Homes & Hope for God's People in Need...

For Immediate Release

Contact:     Christa Lewis, Advancement & Communications Manager

                  (843) 768-0998 ext.112

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Awards House Grant to Sea Island Habitat for Humanity

Lowcountry Lutheran churches will partner to blitz a home together

JOHNS ISLAND, SC –  This year, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has given new meaning to “corporate generosity.”  Already one of Habitat for Humanity’s largest supporters through the $105 million Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance, Thrivent Financial has announced an increase in this four-year commitment to $125 million.  Of that amount, $23.2 million will be used in 2008 to build 322 Habitat homes in 42 states.

Locally, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has been awarded $60,064, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build one home in 2008 through the alliance.  25 percent of the funds are being provided by Sea Island Habitat and the remaining 10 percent is being raised by Lowcountry Lutheran churches.  This home will be built by area volunteers, led by a week-long building blitz of Lutherans and Thrivent Financial members.

The family selected for the Thrivent Builds/Lowcountry Lutheran House is the Douglas-White family.  They will contribute 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’, 200 hours of which will be spent building their home alongside volunteers.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one, two or even more days and can bring a group or work as an individual.  The dates of the blitz build are March 8-15, 2008 and work commences at 8:00am each day.  To volunteer, you must register in advance by contacting Christa Lewis at Sea Island Habitat, at: 843-768-0998 or: outreach@seaislandhabitat.org.

This grant is part of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance formed between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds Homes provides funding for hundreds of Habitat homes annually and seeks to engage thousands of Thrivent Financial members and Lutherans in Habitat home-building projects. To learn more, visit www.thriventbuilds.com. 

In calendar year 2008 – Sea Island Habitat for Humanity plans, God willing, to build 30 homes for their 30^th Anniversary.  For more information, visit the SIHH website, www.seaislandhabitat.org, or call (843) 768-0998.

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Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, the third oldest Habitat for Humanity Affiliate, is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry open to all.  The mission of Sea Island Habitat is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, and to make decent housing a matter of conscience in our community.  Established in 1978, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has built more than 230 homes serving 1,100 children and adults.