NEW HOME WILL BE BEGINNING FOR A

NEW LIFE FOR INVERNESS FAMILY

Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County has completed the family selection process for  one home being funded by Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, a program that will

change the lives of up to 355 families this year

INVERNESS, FL. (January 3, 2007) – This year will mark the beginning of a new life for the Philip Crusco family.  They recently learned they had been selected to build a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity home in Inverness.   Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a $105 million alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  This initiative will provide 65 percent of the construction costs of the Crusco home.  The Citrus County Area Thrivent chapter and Lutheran congregations will raise an additional 10 percent while Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County will fund the remaining 25 percent.

Because the need for affordable housing is so great, the desire to partner with Habitat for Humanity to build a home is also great.  Families are chosen based on their need for decent housing, their ability to repay a no-profit, zero-interest mortgage and their willingness to help build their home or other Habitat for Humanity homes.  Because partnering with Habitat is a life-changing experience, selected families are often joyfully overwhelmed when told the good news. 

“We are actively working on our 500 hours of sweat equity, with 250 hours already done” stated Phil Crusco, future homeowner for the Thrivent Builds home. “This will change our lives and the life of our one year old son in immeasurable ways. To have a safe, decent and affordable place to live will be a dream come true.”

—more—

Our affiliate looks forward to building a strong ongoing relationship with St. Timothy Lutheran Church of Crystal River, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Hernando, Faith Lutheran Church of Lecanto, First Lutheran Church of Inverness, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beverly Hills and Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Citrus Springs.”

While Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County will build one Thrivent Builds home this year, other Habitat affiliates in 43 states will build up to 355 homes in 2007.  These partner families will all experience the pride of homeownership by year’s end and will know that their lives are forever changed.

The four-year, $105-million commitment by Thrivent Financial includes plans to construct hundreds of  additional Habitat homes across the country each year through, to engage hundreds of thousands of volunteers in Habitat for Humanity builds, to promote short-term Habitat home-building trips abroad and to provide large grants to measurably improve substandard housing in specific neighborhoods. 

For more information on this unique alliance, visit www.Thriventbuilds.com.

About Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County

Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need in Citrus County.  Since 1993, Habitat for Humanity of Citrus has worked with 29 families to build homes. For more information, visit http://www.habitatcc.org.

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 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than one million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping nearly 3 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.  Thrivent Financial has main offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Appleton, Wis.  For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

—END—