States' First Families, Habitat For Humanity, Lowe's Celebrate Mother's Day With Women NationwideMaine First Lady Karen Baldacci, North Dakota First Lady Mikey Hoeven Lead Second Year of Habitat's 50-State Women Build Initiative
MOORESVILLE, N.C. and AMERICUS, Ga., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Governors,
their spouses and other state and local leaders in 11 states will join women
volunteers to celebrate Mother's Day and kick off year two of First Families
Building Homes Across America, an initiative of Habitat for Humanity's Women
Build program, which is underwritten by Lowe's. As part of this two-year
initiative, governors' spouses and other local and statewide leaders raise
their hammers alongside Habitat and women volunteers to construct Women Build
homes in partnership with families in every U.S. state and the District of
Columbia.
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"We're so pleased to have the leadership and enthusiasm of First Lady
Baldacci and First Lady Hoeven helping us address the issues of poverty
housing," said Linda Sultan, director of Habitat for Humanity International's
Women Build program. "By getting other first families across the country
involved, we can better raise awareness and help make the dream of
homeownership come true for families in need across the country."
Habitat for Humanity launched year one of the First Families initiative
last May in Mobile, Ala., and since then 27 First Families houses have been
constructed by local and state leaders, Habitat for Humanity women volunteers
and Habitat homeowners. All homes built as part of the First Families program
are Habitat Women Build homes. Habitat's Women Build program makes
homeownership a reality for families in need by training women volunteers to
construct simple, decent and affordable homes, allowing women from all walks
of life to help families build better futures for children. To date, more than
800 Habitat homes have been built by women crews.
As 2007 co-chairs of the First Families program, First Ladies Karen
Baldacci (Maine) and Mikey Hoeven (North Dakota) will lead the effort to
involve state-wide and local leaders in the 25 additional First Families homes
to be built this year.
"We've received tremendous support for this program over the last year,"
said Maine First Lady Karen Baldacci, who helped kick off the program last May
in Mobile, Ala. "The First Families initiative helps address the need for
safe, affordable housing and I am pleased to be part of a program that
empowers women volunteers to help build better communities."
"I'm honored to work with Mrs. Baldacci to kick off the second year of
this important program and encourage women volunteers to construct homes with
Habitat families across America," added North Dakota First Lady Mikey Hoeven.
"We hope the First Families program will continue to inspire women volunteers
to work with Habitat's Women Build program to help create affordable housing
in their communities."
Habitat's Women Build program gives women the opportunity to learn
construction skills and to use these skills to help move families out of
poverty. In addition to underwriting the Women Build program, Lowe's provides
construction expertise through in-store "How-To" clinics and with their
employee volunteers on build sites. Further information is available at
Lowes.com/Habitat.
"Habitat's Women Build program takes families out of poverty housing and
into environments where their children can grow and succeed," noted Larry D.
Stone, chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Lowe's
finds the greatest support we can offer Women Build is by sharing our
knowledge with women volunteers in stores and on build sites in the
communities we serve."
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 Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has
built more than 225,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple,
decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more
information, visit habitat.org.
About Lowe's
Lowe's is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International,
American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in
addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help
communities across the country. In 2006, the Lowe's Charitable and Educational
Foundation awarded $15 million to diverse organizations across the United
States. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe's Heroes program,
a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe's is a FORTUNE(R) 50
company with fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion and has more than 1,375
stores in 49 states. For more information, visit Lowes.com/community.
SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
