Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Commits $10.4 Million to Build Habitat for Humanity Homes in 2011

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans announced that in 2011 it will fund the construction of 164 Habitat for Humanity homes in 33 states with a $10.4 million contribution.  Thrivent Financial's total six-year commitment to Habitat for Humanity to help families achieve the dream of homeownership will surpass $150 million in 2011. This commitment is through a unique partnership called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.

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Habitat for Humanity's relationship with Thrivent Financial brings the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. During the past five years, this integrated effort resulted in the construction of nearly 1,500 homes in the United States, which engaged approximately 450,000 volunteers who contributed nearly 3 million volunteer hours toward the effort.

"Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity over the years has given members and employees of Thrivent Financial the opportunity to serve communities and families," said Brad Hewitt, President and CEO of Thrivent Financial. "Habitat for Humanity has provided us with a perfect vehicle to support our mission."

The Thrivent Builds Worldwide program of the partnership gives Thrivent Financial members and other volunteers an opportunity to build homes abroad or in the U.S. During the past five years, approximately 5,000 volunteers forming 450 different teams traveled to build nearly 1,000 homes in 34 countries through Thrivent Builds Worldwide. Many of those volunteer teams did construction in two special Thrivent Builds Worldwide communities— 75 homes were built in a holistic community in El Salvador and nearly 100 homes were constructed over the past three years in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and its recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

"We are extremely grateful for Thrivent Financial's continued support of Habitat for Humanity's worldwide efforts to improve housing conditions," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "This commitment to another year of partnership will enable us to help many more families have safe and decent homes where they can create a brighter future. It will also provide opportunities for life-changing experiences for thousands of volunteers."

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a "hand up" to people who lack decent shelter, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat's largest single source of funding, constructing nearly 2,500 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.6 million members achieve financial security and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank products and more. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial creates and supports national outreach programs and activities that help congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. Also, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI.  Not all products are available in all states.  Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, 800-847-4836, a FINRA and SIPC member  and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc.  They are also licensed insurance agents of Thrivent Financial.

Bank products and trust services are offered through Thrivent Financial Bank, (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance, securities, investment advisory services, and trust and investment management accounts are not deposits, are not guaranteed by Thrivent Financial Bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency, and may go down in value.

For additional important disclosure information, please visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

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, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International