Staff report
Rowan County Habitat for Humanity was part of an international milestone celebrated earlier this month in Minneapolis.
A unique alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, has resulted in 2,000 homes for families in four years.
Rowan County Habitat for Humanity built four homes as part of that effort.
Rowan County Habitat has been awarded $48,100 for the construction of a Thrivent Builds home in Rowan County in the coming year.
At the Dec. 4 event, Thrivent Financial announced a 2010 commitment of $15 million to Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity and its homebuilding program, continuing its support of Habitat’s mission for a fifth year, a statement said.
The funding will make the construction of 181 additional homes in 37 states possible.
“The Thrivent Builds alliance has helped Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County increase the number of families served in our community,” said Executive Director Coleman Emerson.
“We are very grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need,” he said.
While Thrivent Financial provided at least 65 percent of the funding for each of the 2,000 homes, local volunteers ó many of them Thrivent members and members of area Lutheran congregations ó assisted with construction and helped raise additional funds.
The four-year Thrivent Builds alliance was announced in September 2005 and has helped construct six percent of Habitat homes built in the United States from 2006 through 2009.
Ongoing in 2010, the Thrivent Builds partnership continues to ensure Thrivent Financial as one of the largest supporters of Habitat for Humanity.
To volunteer or for more information on the 2010 Rowan County project, call Thrivent at 704-633-0722.