Central Berkshire Habitat Awarded $56K Grant
PITTSFIELD – Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity was recently awarded a grant of $56,128 from Thrivent Builds Homes for its home building project on Daniels Avenue.The two-family home will be substantially built by volunteers, with major participation from Thrivent Financial members and Lutherans. Habitat partner families, who are selected by the local chapter, will be working alongside other volunteers to help fulfill their "sweat equity" requirement for home ownership.
The foundation was poured last fall and framing has begun on the house. The project is expected to be completed before Christmas 2008.
"The Thrivent Builds program is both a welcome windfall and a significant new challenge for Central Berkshire Habitat," said Sara Hathaway, president of Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. "The terms of the grant require us to build units over and above what we have historically built in a year: since we finished two homes in 2007, Thrivent asks us to aim for three units in 2008. We are energized by this new goal, and will look to the generous Berkshire community for continuing support to make this goal a reality."
Already one of Habitat for Humanity's largest supporters through the $105 million Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 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. Additionally in 2008, the alliance will support more than 200 volunteer teams that will help build homes on the Gulf Coast and abroad.
"At the beginning of the alliance, we committed $105 million, but actually budgeted an additional $20 million that we could add later if the alliance proved successful," said Senior Vice President Brad Hewitt of Thrivent Financial."Given our results to date, we're ready to make that additional commitment.”
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The international organization is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping nearly three 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. Thrivent Financial has main offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Appleton, Wis. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.
