Thrivent home kick-off in 2016
Los Angeles, CA — March 16, 2017: Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) are partnering in the City of Bellflower to build a home alongside a local family through the Thrivent Builds Homes program. Thrivent members and others will volunteer to help the future homeowners build their new home. Thrivent Financial has awarded Habitat LA $150,000 to support building safe, decent, and affordable housing in greater Los Angeles. These funds will help build a new Habitat for Humanity home and Local Thrivent members will also raise additional funds towards this home.
Habitat homeowners come from variety of different backgrounds and each have their own story, but they are all similar in their desire for a safe, decent place to live. Habitat LA partners with families in the local community to provide a “hand-up” in regards to permanent housing solutions. Through the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity partnership another family will build their home and a foundation for a brighter future.
Thrivent Builds Homes is one of three Thrivent Builds programs which partners the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of Habitat. Thrivent Builds Homes focuses on building new homes alongside future Habitat homeowners who will pay an affordable mortgage for their home and will contribute hundreds of sweat equity hours in the construction process or complete other tasks. Thrivent Builds Repairs is a program that focuses on helping complete external repairs on existing homes, and Thrivent Builds Worldwide sends teams of volunteers across the country or across the globe to build homes with Habitat families.
Geoff Delahanty, a Los Angeles based Wealth Advisor with Thrivent Financial said, “The Thrivent Builds program provides us with more options to serve our area. The support we receive from the local community for projects like this is incredible and we look forward to working together in 2017 to make a difference.”
“We are so grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to both build and repair homes in partnership with families working toward strength, stability, and self-reliance” said Erin Rank, President and CEO, Habitat LA. “Together, we are helping families and strengthening the community.”
This year’s Thrivent family is partner homebuyer, Becca Afemata, who has lived with her mother and three children in a rental home for nearly 14 years. Their biggest challenge as renters is getting the landlord to make health and safety related repairs. All three children suffer from asthma, which is complicated by ongoing mold issues in the bathrooms. They also deal with inadequate electrical services preventing them from running fans or space heaters. Becca has qualified for an affordable mortgage with Habitat LA and will help build her home, as well as other Habitat LA homes, as part of her sweat equity. By the end of the year, Becca and her family will receive the keys to their new Habitat home in Bellflower.
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is an ongoing partnership between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity. From the national partnership’s inception in 2005, Thrivent Financial and its members have now committed more than $226 million and more than 5 million volunteer hours. This has resulted in thousands of families and individuals living in safe, decent, and affordable housing as well as hundreds of communities banding together to make a positive impact. In 2017, Thrivent has committed nearly $14 million to support the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity partnership, along with thousands of Thrivent members and other volunteers who will provide their hands and their hearts for construction.
To learn more and get involved, visit www.ThriventBuilds.com and habitatla.org. Share your Thrivent Builds experience online: #ThriventBuilds #LiveGenerously
About Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity
Thrivent Financial has been a national partner of Habitat for Humanity since 2005, through the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity partnership. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and other volunteers to improve communities by working alongside families in need of a decent place to live all across the U.S. and around the world. Together with its volunteers, Thrivent Financial has constructed and repaired more than 4,300 homes in the U.S. and have sent 1,000 build teams around the world. Thrivent Financial remains the largest non-governmental supporter of Habitat for Humanity International. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.
About Thrivent Financial
Thrivent Financial is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously. As a membership organization, it offers its more than 2.3 million members a broad range of products, services and guidance from financial representatives nationwide. For more than a century it has helped members make wise money choices that reflect their values while providing them opportunities to demonstrate their generosity where they live, work and worship. For more information, visit Thrivent.com/why. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. As the top nonprofit homebuilder in the greater Los Angeles area with five consecutive Charity Navigator 4-Star ratings, Habitat LA has partnered with volunteers, donors and Habitat homeowners to build, renovate and repair more than 1,200 homes locally and worldwide since 1990. The lives of thousands of individuals have been transformed as a result of having a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage. By supporting Habitat LA through volunteerism, donations and supporting affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future. To learn more, visit habitatla.org.
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Contacts:
Yvonne Lara
Habitat LA
424-246-3187
ylara@habitatla.org
Angela Moore
Starfish P.R.
310-429-8868
angela@starfish-pr.com
