Hurricane Katrina Victims to Benefit From New Thrivent Financial, Habitat Alliance

Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans unveiled an unprecedented financial, volunteer and advocacy alliance designed to substantially increase Habitat's capacity to build more affordable housing. The alliance, called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, represents a four-year, $100 million commitment by Thrivent Financial.

Additionally, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Thrivent Financial has earmarked another $5 million to Thrivent Builds to help rebuild homes in the Gulf Coast region.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has four major programs:

• A joint major homebuilding initiative that is designed to build up to 500 additional U.S. Habitat for Humanity homes annually by 2008 for families living in substandard housing, and engage thousands of volunteers. Thrivent Financial will fund 70 percent of the cost of each Thrivent Builds home it sponsors.

• An innovative giving program for Thrivent Financial members that will promote and supplement financial gifts to Habitat for Humanity and help fuel Habitat builds.

• A program to annually build an additional 200 homes internationally by 2008 through short-term international and domestic trips by bringing volunteers and financial support to host communities from Alaska to Zambia to build simple, decent, affordable homes in collaboration with the world's 2 billion people who lack shelter.

• A national grant program offering approximately six grants of up to $1 million to community organizations, coalitions and nonprofits for projects that will measurably improve entire neighborhoods.

In addition, as part of its mission as a fraternal benefit society, Thrivent Financial will engage and motivate thousands of Americans on the issue of substandard housing through a one-of-a-kind mobile education center (48-foot semitrailer) that will crisscross the nation and educate and motivate visitors to support decent, affordable housing.

Related Links

• Thrivent Boosts Habitat
  St. Paul Pioneer Press, 9/9/05

• Thrivent Gives Gift of Hearth: Habitat Houses
  Minneapolis Star Tribune, 9/9/05

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