Fourth Annual Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks Program Kicks Off Community Build in Atlanta With Habitat for Humanity
31 August 2009 - 10:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
250 Volunteers Start Five-Day, Eight-Home Blitz Build ATLANTA, Aug.
31 /PRNewswire/ -- As the sun rises over the Atlanta skyline today,
250 volunteers are picking up hammers, shovels and ladders to help
eight Habitat for Humanity partner families achieve their dreams of
homeownership. Over the next five days, Whirlpool brand, Habitat
for Humanity International, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Southern
Crescent Habitat for Humanity and volunteers from across the
country are joining together for the fourth annual Whirlpool
Building Blocks program. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040202/DETU004LOGO )
Affordable housing is one of the most crucial needs in this country
- in fact, one in three American families spends more than 30
percent of their income on housing, and one in seven spends more
than 50 percent.* The Whirlpool Building Blocks initiative is a
signature program created by the appliance brand to help raise
awareness of the need for more affordable housing. "Four years ago,
the Whirlpool Building Blocks program set out to support Habitat's
efforts to help eliminate substandard housing, and today we're
continuing that mission in Atlanta," said Wes Pringle, vice
president of brand business teams, Whirlpool Corporation. "Proper
shelter is a basic need. In five days, we'll help make that
necessity, as well as the dream of homeownership, a reality for
eight Habitat partner families." This year's build takes place in
The Avery neighborhood, a brand-new housing development in the
Clayton County area of south metro Atlanta. Atlanta is one of the
fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country, yet suffers from
a deficit of 85,000 affordable homes, according to a 2007 Georgia
Tech study. The 2009 build features enhanced green elements as well
as energy-efficient construction techniques and materials to reduce
the footprint of the build and help the families maintain low
utility bills. "The eight homes built during the Whirlpool Building
Blocks program will be a tremendous boost to The Avery neighborhood
and help address the great need for affordable housing throughout
our metro area," said Larrie Del Martin, executive director,
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. "In addition, all of the houses are
built green with quality, energy-efficient construction techniques
that ultimately save homeowners money." Each year, the Whirlpool
Building Blocks program recognizes an outstanding Habitat for
Humanity affiliate in the United States by organizing a weeklong
neighborhood blitz build in the affiliate's community. The program
kicked off in Nashville in 2006, moved to Phoenix in 2007 and
continued to Dallas in 2008. "The 2009 program is unique as it
showcases collaboration between Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity affiliates," said Brenda
Rayburn, executive director, Southern Crescent Habitat for
Humanity. "With the help of 250 volunteers, this partnership is
building more than homes - it is changing lives and demonstrating
the powerful impact Whirlpool can have in communities across the
nation." Whirlpool Corporation is one of Habitat for Humanity's
largest corporate partners, donating a range and ENERGY STAR
qualified refrigerator to every new Habitat home built in North
America, totaling more than 100,000 appliances to date. Every year,
thousands of Whirlpool employees volunteer their time to Habitat
builds around the world. Whirlpool Corporation plans to support
every new Habitat home built globally by 2011, through product
donations, cash or volunteerism. To join the Whirlpool Building
Blocks community on Facebook, connect with volunteers past and
present, and stay up-to-date on the 2009 build, go to
http://www.facebook.com/whirlpoolbuildingblocks. *According to
Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies About
Whirlpool Brand Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading
manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances with 2008 sales
of approximately $19 billion and 70,000 employees. Whirlpool brand
recognizes that consumers lead busy, active lives and continues to
create solutions that help consumers optimize productivity in the
home. In addition to designing appliance solutions based on
consumer insight, Whirlpool brand is dedicated to creating ENERGY
STAR qualified appliances like the Duet Steam washer, which uses up
to 74 percent less water and 80 percent less energy than
conventional washers manufactured before 2004 - helping consumers
save money and natural resources. Whirlpool is one of Habitat for
Humanity's largest corporate partners, donating a refrigerator and
range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in North
America. For more information on Whirlpool brand, please visit
http://www.whirlpool.com/. Additional information about the company
can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/. About Habitat for
Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International 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 300,000 houses
worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more
than 1.5 million people. For more information, visit
http://www.habitat.org/. About Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Atlanta
Habitat for Humanity, one of over 1,600 U.S. affiliates of Habitat
for Humanity International, is a non-profit organization dedicated
to providing affordable housing to Atlanta's working families.
Since 1983, volunteers from corporations, faith-based and civic
organizations have worked in partnership with qualified homebuyers
to construct quality, affordable, green homes in Atlanta, which are
then purchased through no-interest, no-profit mortgages. Now able
to serve families in 10 counties, Atlanta Habitat celebrated the
completion of its 1,000th and 1,001st houses in 2008, its 25th
anniversary year. For more information about Atlanta Habitat for
Humanity, please visit http://www.atlantahabitat.org/ or call
404-223-5180. About Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity Southern
Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a locally governed, locally
managed non-profit housing ministry, serving Clayton, Fayette and
Henry counties for over 20 years. The affiliate has built more than
95 homes locally and funded an additional 51 homes outside the US
through tithes. The selected families must complete a rigorous
screening process which includes financial qualifications as well
as motivational indicators. Partner families earn between 25% and
60% of area median income so the assistance being provided is for
those who are not candidates for traditional mortgages. Southern
Crescent Habitat homeowners contribute a minimum of 250 hours of
sweat equity in addition to the other program requirements, such as
the required 50 hours of homeowner education. Their comprehensive
homeownership program has proven to ensure long term, successful
homeownership.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040202/DETU004LOGO
DATASOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation CONTACT: Alyson Buck of
Peppercom, +1-212-931-6122, , for Whirlpool Web Site:
http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/
Copyright