Tennessee Housing Development Authority pledges $1 million to match donations to Habitat for Humanity's 33rd Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis and Habitat for Humanity International announced a major challenge grant to kick off the fundraising effort for Habitat's 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Memphis. THDA will match the first $1 million in donations for the project.

THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey and Memphis Habitat President and CEO Dwayne Spencer announced the grant at a joint press conference at the Bearwater Park area of Uptown Memphis. Habitat supporters, including representatives from the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency and Oasis of Hope, the nonprofit donating the land, were in attendance. Bearwater Park will serve as the location for new home construction during the project.

"We hope our $1 million pledge will open people's eyes to the size and scope of what Habitat for Humanity has planned for the Bearwater Park neighborhood and the Memphis area next year. THDA is committed to the cause, and we hope our financial support will inspire others to get involved and donate," Perrey said. "The people of Memphis should be tremendously proud of what their local Habitat for Humanity has accomplished. We're deeply grateful to work with such an effective partner, and we're excited to watch Bearwater Park spring to life."

Habitat's 2016 Carter Work Project, Aug. 21-27, 2016, will serve Memphis-area families through multiple projects, including the construction of 21 new homes; 33 beautification projects, including minor repairs, painting and landscaping; and 45 Aging in Place program projects to enhance accessibility and mobility for low-income seniors. The project is expected to involve thousands of volunteers from the Memphis area, across the state of Tennessee and beyond. Memphis Habitat is currently seeking partnerships to financially support the project and provide a foundation for partner families to create a brighter future.

"The Carter Work Project empowers people to bring hope, stability and housing solutions to their communities, and we are proud to bring that effort to Memphis in 2016," Spencer said. "Like Habitat, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency is committed to making decent, affordable housing accessible to low-income families, and THDA has long supported our work here in Memphis. We are honored to count THDA as a partner in such an important project."

The THDA Board of Directors, which includes Memphians John Baker and Dorothy Cleaves, approved the challenge grant earlier this week. Since THDA is self-funded and does not receive state tax dollars, the challenge grant funding will come from the agency's own revenues, generated from single-family home loans to middle/moderate-income families.

The 2016 Carter Work Project will be the 33rd year former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter build with Habitat for Humanity.  They, along with country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, helped build a home in Memphis Monday, Nov. 2 to announce the build week.

Brooks and Yearwood will return to build with Habitat during the 2016 Carter Work Project, which will make it the country music stars' eighth project. Brooks and Yearwood have helped Habitat improve communities since 2007, including building homes after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have worked alongside 92,000 volunteers to build, renovate and repair 3,943 Habitat for Humanity homes in 14 countries, while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Since 1976, Habitat has helped more than 6.8 million people gain strength, stability and independence through housing, including home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and programs. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org. 

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis:
Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing by creating sustainable, affordable homeownership opportunities families in need and providing critical home repairs to low-income homeowners. Since its founding in 1983, Memphis Habitat has built more than 445 new homes in the Memphis area, completed 80-plus critical repair projects in Uptown Memphis and funded the construction of 64 homes abroad. For more information, please visit www.memphishabitat.com or follow Memphis Habitat at www.facebook.com/memphishabitat, www.twitter.com/memphishabitat and www.instagram.com/memphishabitat.

About the Tennessee Housing Development Agency
As the State's housing finance agency, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) is a self-sufficient, independently funded, publicly accountable entity of the State of Tennessee. More information about THDA programs can be found online at www.thda.org.

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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International

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