Habitat for Humanity Congratulates Long-Time Partner Whirlpool Corporation as It Kicks Off Its 100th Anniversary Celebration

ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity International congratulates Whirlpool Corporation as it kicks off its yearlong 100th anniversary celebration. Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity's largest corporate partners and has an active partnership with Habitat in 22 countries. Through 2010, the company's aggregate Habitat contributions since 1999 have exceeded $73 million, and more than 6,000 Whirlpool employees have volunteered their time on Habitat build sites around the world.

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"We offer our heartiest congratulations to Whirlpool upon reaching this important milestone," said Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford. "Whirlpool Corporation and its employees share with Habitat the passionate desire to improve the lives of families, and we are exceedingly grateful for their partnership."

In North America, the cornerstone of Whirlpool Corporation's partnership with Habitat is a gift-in-kind donation program through which Whirlpool donates a range and an ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerator for every new home built. In Europe and Central Asia Whirlpool donates a refrigerator, hood and washer to every Habitat home built where Whirlpool Europe sells appliances. The company's activities in Latin America include construction funding and volunteerism in Brazil and Argentina. Whirlpool has donated more than 125,000 appliances in support of more than 69,000 families through these programs.

Whirlpool has been a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, sponsoring projects in the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, and China. Whirlpool Corporation has sponsored more than 100 homes in communities around the world, including 45 through the Whirlpool ® Building Blocks program.  

In 2009, Whirlpool Corporation became the first Habitat for Humanity partner to make planned product donations to Habitat ReStore Outlets, which sell used and surplus building supplies at reduced prices. Within 18 months, Whirlpool exceeded its $1 million pledge by $9 million, donating product to 60 Habitat ReStore outlets in 23 U.S. states.  

"Throughout our partnership, in both favorable and challenging economic climates, Whirlpool has consistently committed resources and expertise to Habitat's mission," said Mark Crozet, senior vice president of Development for Habitat for Humanity International.

Whirlpool Corporation has leveraged other corporate relationships to benefit the Habitat partnership. The Whirlpool sponsorship of the Women's Tennis Association led to the Tour adopting Habitat for Humanity as its official European cause from 2005 to 2008.  In 2003, Whirlpool Corporation introduced Lowe's and Valspar to Habitat, and today those companies share robust partnerships with Habitat for Humanity. A Whirlpool partnership with Grammy award-winning country music artist Reba McEntire raised close to $1 million for Habitat between 2005 and 2007.

"We are honored to partner with Whirlpool to transform lives and communities around the world," Reckford said, "and we proudly join Whirlpool and its family of employees around the world in celebrating a century of turning houses into homes."  

For more information on the partnership, visit Habitat.org or www.whirlpool.com/habitat.

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 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, visit Habitat.org.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion, 70,000 employees, and 68 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International