Thrivent, Habitat for Humanity: Valuable lessons about poverty housing at the Wisconsin State Fair

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity exhibit helps fairgoers learn about Wisconsin residents struggling with housing, while enjoying no-cost activities and prizes

APPLETON, Wis. (July 23, 2009) – Many of us live in relative comfort and security, even with the prevalent headlines about the difficulties in obtaining or keeping a decent, affordable home. We don’t worry about mildew, unsafe electrical connections, rotting floors or shivering through a winter without heat. But for the more than 95 million people in the United States who are impacted by housing problems – including poor quality shelter, overcrowding, homelessness and disproportionately high costs for shelter – these concerns aren’t just worries, they’re realities. Evidence of those realities do exist in Wisconsin.

It can be hard to imagine what it’s like to live in substandard housing, and even harder to imagine how you can help. This year at the Wisconsin State Fair, there’s an opportunity to see the problem firsthand and learn how each of us can be part of the solution.The 67-foot Thrivent Builds Mobile is part of a $125 million alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International called “Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.” During a free, nine-minute tour through this multimedia exhibit on wheels, state fair visitors will connect with the sights, sounds and feel of substandard housing. Outside the exhibit, visitors will enjoy competitive games, kids’ activities, volunteer information, and a free gift. The exhibit, traveling to nine states this year and at the Wisconsin State Fair for the third year now, is designed to rally thousands of individuals and organizations to advocate, donate, and participate in Habitat’s effort to build decent, affordable housing.

The Mobile will be at the Wisconsin State Fair and open to the public:

* Thursday, August 6 – Sunday, August 16, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

* Wisconsin Exposition Center Fairgrounds at 640 South 84th Street, West Allis, WI

“Substandard housing is a global problem, but it’s also a problem that touches the lives of people right here in our own community,” said Sara Kierzek, Executive Director of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. “This year we are helping fair visitors understand the problem through the Thrivent Builds Mobile.”

Thrivent Financial is one of Habitat’s largest allies. Thanks to its 2.6 million members who own financial products with the organization, Thrivent Financial is able to contribute to the improvement of communities across the nation. By the end of 2009, more than 1,300 Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity homes will be built in the U.S. in just four years, with 139 of those homes in Wisconsin and 40 of those homes in Milwaukee. Hundreds more have been constructed by volunteer teams in other countries.

“Being able to help provide a family with a home means so much to Thrivent members,” states Jeremy Keil, a Senior Financial Consultant for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Muskego. “Volunteering is an important aspect of our membership. This exhibit tells the Thrivent Builds story and asks others in the community to join us as we help some of our most vulnerable families take an important step toward financial security through affordable homeownership.”

For information, visit http://www.thriventbuilds.com.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a $125 million alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. The alliance makes Thrivent Financial one of Habitat’s largest allies and aims to increase Habitat’s annual house production by hundreds of homes per year. To date more than 1,000 homes have been built in the U.S. and hundreds of volunteer teams have helped build homes around the world. For more information, visit http://www.thriventbuilds.com.

Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need. Since 1984, Milwaukee Habitat has worked with 390 families to build or rehabilitate homes. By year end that total will be 425 families! For more information, visit http://www.milwaukeehabitat.org.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Southeast Wisconsin Region Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping approximately 2.6 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. As a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. Locally, The Southeast Wisconsin Regional Financial Office is made up of 90 financial representatives and provides financial products and services to more than 107,000 members in Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties. Together with its members, Thrivent Financial’s Southeast Wisconsin Region provided more than $9 million in charitable outreach in 2008. For more information, visit http://www.thrivent.com or http://www.lutheransonline.com/rfo300.

Contacts:

* Dean Tosseth, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity in Wisconsin, 715-559-7999 (cell), dean.tosseth@thrivent.com

* Katie Kowalski, Milwaukee Habitat, 414-562-6100, ext. 14, kkowalski@milwaukeehabitat.org

* Kelsey Midthun, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity Publicity, 612-844-5825, 612-751-3483 (cell), kelsey.midthun@thrivent.com

* Cheryl Winget, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity Publicity, 612-844-5025, 612-877-1958 (cell), cheryl.winget@thrivent.com