Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, its members and Habitat for Humanity International are joining together in an unprecedented alliance that will put the faith of Lutherans and their communities into action to partner with families to help them achieve greater economic independence by building and owning simple, decent homes. Called "Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity", the alliance is a four-year, $105 million commitment by Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit fortune 500 financial services organization with nearly three million members in the United States.  This commitment makes Thrivent Financial the largest financial and volunteer ally in Habitat's 30-year history.
Participating in this program makes sense for both organizations. As a faith-based membership organization, part of the mission of Thrivent Financial is to improve the quality of life for its members and their communities by caring for others.  Similarly, Habitat for Humanity seeks to work with organizations that share its values and want to help eliminate poverty housing.  Habitat is a great fit with Thrivent Financial's mission.
Thrivent Builds Homes: In 2006, up to 313 homes were built as a result of this alliance.  355 additional homes in 43 states will be built in 2007 and up to 500 homes by 2008.  19 of these homes in 2007 will be built in our very own St. Louis Heartland Region.
Thrivent Builds Giving:Thrivent Financial adds $1 to every $2 given by Thrivent Financial members to Habitat for Humanity, within program limitations.
Thrivent Financial provides 70 percent of the funding needed for each of the Habitat homes it sponsors with remaining funding generated locally by Thrivent chapters, Habitat affiliates and other volunteers from the community.
It will cost approximately $37.7 million to build the 355 homes:
     -Thrivent Financial is funding approximately $24.5 million, or 65 percent
     -Habitat affiliates need to raise nearly $9.4 million, or 25 percent
     -Thrivent chapters need to raise nearly $3.8 million, or 10 percent
Thrivent Builds homes are similar to all Habitat for Humanity homes, but with a greater focus on assistance from local Thrivent Financial members and Lutheran congregations.  Those groups and other volunteers from the community-including Habitat partner families-will come together to build simple, decent homes.   The homes will then be sold to partner families at no profit. But this is not a giveaway program.  In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into helping build their home and the homes of others.
Homeowners are selected for Thrivent Builds homes based on Habitat for Humanity criteria. Potential homeowners apply to local Habitat affiliates.  The affiliate's family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-profit mortgage.  Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.  Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat homes.

The Logan County chapter of Habitat for Humanity is accepting donations toward the cost of the Thrivent Builds home.  You will also be hearing more about how you can volunteer to help with this project in the coming months.  Ground breaking ceremonies for the Thrivent Builds home in Logan County will be held Saturday, March 10 @ 11:00 AM at 524 N. Hamilton, Lincoln.  Building of the house will begin the end of March, weather permitting. For more information about Thrivent Builds, visit www.Thriventbuilds.com and for more information about the Logan County Thrivent builds home, contact David Coers @(217)445-2480 or email coers3jlamb@springnet1.com or George Dahmm @ (217)732-6234 or email g.dahmm@verizon.net.  
Please consider what a good project this is and please help out as much as you can!