Whirlpool Corporation and Michigan State University to Partner in Habitat for Humanity Campus Build

LANSING, Mich., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michigan State University (MSU) students, faculty and staff will recognize the National Day of Service on Sept. 11, 2010, launching a Habitat for Humanity campus blitz build in partnership with Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), Habitat For Humanity Lansing and Habitat for Humanity International.

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The build is part of the 2010 Whirlpool® Building Blocks initiative, Whirlpool Corporation's signature program with Habitat for Humanity. Since 1999, Whirlpool Corporation has supported Habitat in its mission to create affordable housing and the company is one of the organization's largest corporate sponsors.

The first phase of construction will take place in the commuter parking lot near Mount Hope Road and Farm Lane. The house will then be moved to its permanent location in Lansing, where construction will be completed. The future homeowner is a graduate student at MSU, and she and her children will be the 100^th family housed by Habitat for Humanity Lansing. The build will end on Oct. 15, wrapping up MSU's Fall Welcome activities.

"Partnerships, like this one with Whirlpool Corporation and Michigan State University, allow us to create affordable housing opportunities in partnership with local families," said Denise Paquette, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Lansing. "We are excited to be working with MSU and the students. Students support Habitat's work both locally, nationally and worldwide."

Involving students in outreach and community development activities is fundamental to the MSU experience.  

"At MSU, service and community engagement are part of the academic experience. In fact, MSU has the oldest continuously operating service learning center in the country," said Karen McKnight Casey, director of MSU's Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement. "MSU was approached by Habitat for Humanity and Whirlpool Corporation to partner in this first on-campus build of a Habitat house because of our strong commitment to and engagement with community. MSU students will not only give through their participation in this tangible representation of campus to community connections, but also will gain in their knowledge and understanding of civic responsibility."

A presentation of the keys to the new homeowners is planned to take place during the Oct. 16, 2010, MSU vs. University of Illinois Homecoming football game.

"Whirlpool Corporation is proud of its 10-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity," said Dave Binkley, a graduate of MSU and senior vice president of global human resources, Whirlpool Corporation. "We are pleased to sponsor and participate in the MSU campus build, and are grateful to Michigan State University, participating student organizations, Habitat for Humanity Lansing and Habitat for Humanity International for making it possible to make the dream of home ownership a reality for another Habitat family."

Interested student groups and individuals are encouraged to inquire about participation by visiting the MSU Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (CSLCE) website, http://www.servicelearning.msu.edu/ or by contacting the CSLCE at [email protected]. For more, visit www.whirlpool.com/habitat or www.facebook.com/whirlpoolbuildingblocks.

About Habitat for Humanity Lansing

Habitat for Humanity Lansing is a non-profit, ecumenical housing organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing in the Greater Lansing Area. Since their founding in 1987, they have built or rehabilitated 85 homes locally. Houses are built in partnership with economically disadvantaged families using volunteer labor and sold via zero-interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity Lansing is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit: www.habitatlansing.org

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.

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, 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 www.habitat.org.

About Whirlpool Corporation

In 10 years of partnership with Habitat for Humanity®, Whirlpool Corporation has donated more than 110,000 ranges and ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators to new Habitat homes built in North America, serving 55,000 families.  The company has sponsored more than 100 homes around the world and served nearly 10,000 families in Europe alone. Additionally, Whirlpool has donated more than 10,000 products to Habitat ReStores and has engaged more than 6,000 employee volunteers.  A proud sponsor of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project since 2003, the value of the company's commitment to Habitat nears $63 million.  With active partnerships in 22 countries, Whirlpool plans to support every new Habitat home built globally by 2011, through product donations, cash or volunteerism.  For more information, go to http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/responsibility/building_communities/habitat_for_humanity.aspx.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 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 Whirlpool Corporation