Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland Holds Unprecedented Building Blitz

CHICAGO, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 29 through June 1 at Pioneer Court Plaza, Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland will host "Raise Your Hand Chicagoland:" an unprecedented building blitz in the heart of downtown Chicago. Volunteers will come together with partner families to complete the initial construction of 13 homes, and immediately following, these new homes will be taken into communities across the region, where they will be finished and become a place 13 families can call their own.

"Raise Your Hand Chicagoland" is a Habitat for Humanity event that invites everyone in Chicagoland to raise their hand and join Habitat to transform families and communities," said Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity CEO Matt Johnson. "With the help of over 400 dedicated volunteers and deserving partner families, we'll be constructing the exterior of one home and wall frames for 12 along one of Chicago's busiest corridors."

The event, "Raise Your Hand Chicagoland," will bring Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland's vision to life: helping transform generations of families and revitalizing neighborhoods through homeownership. Research has shown that homeownership improves families' health, the overall education of school-age students and local communities' economies. Within the past 12 months, Habitat has helped more than 200 families, and by 2018, Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland hopes to serve at least 500 families every year.

"Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland offers families a hand up, fueled by our belief in dignity, self-sufficiency, collaboration and hope. We do this by making housing affordable to hardworking people without access to conventional financing," said Mr. Johnson.

The event will be open to the public at the following times:

• May 29 from 10a.m. to 6p.m.
• May 30 and May 31 from 8a.m. to 6:30p.m.
• June 1 from 9a.m. to 4p.m.

Those across the area are invited to attend "Raise Your Hand Chicagoland" to tour a Habitat home, participate in family-friendly activities and learn more about Habitat for Humanity in Chicagoland, including future volunteer opportunities. Chicagoans can also show their support virtually using #RYHC and following Habitat for Humanity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ChicagoHabitat).

Co-Chairs for Raise Your Hand Chicagoland are John Edwardson, A. Steven Crown and Ted Dosch.  BMO Harris Bank and Lowe's are lead sponsors for the event.

"We're all big believers in Habitat's brand of 'sweat equity.' In the coming seven days, we'll have nearly 400 BMO Harris Bank team members participating in Habitat builds here in Chicago, as well as DuPage County, Milwaukee, Kansas City and St. Louis," said Mark Furlong, CEO of BMO Harris Bank N.A.  "I encourage more companies to make Habitat service projects available to their employee volunteers."

Lowe's will have employee volunteers on site and recently renewed its commitment to Habitat for Humanity International with a five-year, $23.5 million donation that will bring Lowe's total contributions to more than $63 million since 2003. Lowe's also will help Windy City Habitat for Humanity launch its exterior home repair program by providing funding and volunteer support for Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative projects in West Pullman.

"Not only do we get to build homes in the middle of Michigan Avenue, but we get to be a part of something so much bigger – raising the support Habitat needs to continue its mission all across Chicago," said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe's director of community relations and Chicago native. "Helping local families realize the dream of homeownership is an empowering and inspiring experience.  Lowe's is excited about the opportunity to encourage others across the region to join us and help Habitat meet some critical housing needs in Chicago."

Additional sponsors include: Faithful+Gould, Elkay, Anixter, ComEd, Culligan, Gladiator, GM Foundation, Hilti, Northern Trust, PepsiCo, Reyes Holdings, Schneider Electric, Sun-Times Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, United Stationers, USG, Valspar, Whirlpool Corporation, Zeller Realty Group and Splash as Print Media Sponsor.

For more information, visit raiseyourhandchicagoland.org.

About Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity

Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity was created as a support organization for the eight Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Chicagoland area, with a goal of significantly increasing the number of families served in the Chicagoland region. Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity can leverage capacity building and growth, marketing and advocacy as "one Chicago Habitat for Humanity" by working in collaboration with the eight Chicagoland affiliates.

Media Contact:
Erin Hulliberger
[email protected]
(312) 240-2989

SOURCE Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity