Habitat for Humanity New York City and Lowe's team up for National Women Build Week

NEW YORK, May 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Author and television personality Julie Edelman, aka, "The Accidental Housewife;" local women volunteers from Habitat for Humanity-New York City; Teresa Edwards, five-time Olympian and former WNBA coach and player; and Lowe's Heroes, all representing "The Build Generation," raised their paint brushes at the New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) Taft Houses Youth Chorus Center today in recognition of National Women Build Week. Held May 5-13, the week-long event is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe's.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050501/NYSU020LOGO)

This year's theme, "The Build Generation," reflects the event's goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat's mission to create affordable housing and revitalize communities in need.

Today, the women volunteers in New York City are helping revitalize the NYCHA Taft Houses Youth Chorus Center, which provides residents, ages nine to 21 with intensive vocal training and lessons in music history and choreography. In addition to teaching music fundamentals, the Chorus also fosters self-esteem among its young musicians.

"Community revitalization addresses quality-of-life issues in neighborhoods and helps create resilient and sustainable communities," said Rachel Hyman, Acting Executive Director. "We are so pleased to bring together all these dedicated women volunteers for this particular revitalization project during National Women Build Week. We hope the work we do here today will help inspire the next generation to carry on Habitat's mission." 

Edelman, spokeswoman for the New York project and a long-time Women Build supporter, built with women in Paterson, New Jersey, in addition to leading the volunteers revitalizing the Youth Chorus Center.

"As a mother, I understand how important 'community' is in the safe, healthy development of our children," Edelman said. "It's so important to share our knowledge and passion with younger women, equipping them to join us in this effort to create affordable housing, revitalize communities and build a better world for us all. And I can't imagine any better way to celebrate this amazing initiative than having women of all ages helping women leading up to Mother's Day!"

Lowe's, underwriter of Habitat's Women Build program, has committed more than $1.3 million to the 2012 National Women Build Week in support of 275 participating affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe's five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. Lowe's conducts "How-To" clinics at stores to teach women construction skills, enabling them to support Habitat projects across the country

"Lowe's has been the proud sponsor of Habitat's Women Build program since 2004," said Marshall Croom, chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Women Build encourages women from all ages and walks of life to pick up their hammers and build affordable homes alongside local families. Lowe's salutes all the women volunteers who take time to build this week and values the difference Lowe's and Habitat are making in the lives of families across the nation."     

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo sends his greetings to New Yorkers in celebration of Women Build Week: "I applaud your commitment, enthusiasm, and support for this valuable goal. You are true 'builders' in every sense of the word and tremendous inspiration to each and every New Yorker."

The U.S. Census Bureau reports more than 12 million children — one out of every six — are living in poverty in the United States, where more than 70 percent of Habitat's U.S. houses are built in partnership with women heads-of-household. According to the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York State, in New York City, more than 40 percent of renters pay 35 percent or more of their income towards rent-- this represents more families in need of affordable housing. Habitat's Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities. Since the inception of Habitat's Women Build program in 1998 more than 1,900 Habitat for Humanity Women Build houses have been constructed in partnership with low-income families.

About Habitat for Humanity-New York City

Habitat for Humanity - New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing. With the help of thousands of volunteers every year, Habitat-NYC has built 268 affordable homes in the five boroughs of New York City.

For more information please visit http://www.habitatnyc.org/

About Lowe's

Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2011, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $32 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at http://www.facebook.com/habitat or at http://www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat's blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity New York City