NEWS RELEASE
Olathe resident to help build houses in El Salvador
Leon Bauman chosen to help build a community with families in need through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity OLATHE, Kan (September 23, 2009)—Leon Bauman of Olathe is traveling to El Salvador on October 16. He will help build a community of homes side by side with families in need thanks to a $125 million alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International.
Bauman, a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Regional Support Associate, FIC, serving Lutherans and their family members in Olathe and Paola, was selected to represent his colleagues from the organization’s Kansas-Missouri region of Thrivent Financial. Bauman was nominated for this team because of his sales performance, passion for volunteering with members, and drive to help people become financially secure.
This team of 28 service-minded Thrivent Financial representatives from regions across the United States will spend Oct. 16-25 in El Salvador. They will build both goodwill and homes working with Habitat for Humanity El Salvador to construct a community of homes with local Central American families. The new community, called “Villa Esperanza,“ which means “Hope Village” in English, will soon have up to 75 Salvadoran families living in new decent, affordable homes. Thrivent Financial committed $1.3 million to Habitat El Salvador to make “Villa Esperanza” a reality. As a fraternal benefit society, a unique type of not-for-profit membership organization, Thrivent Financial focuses on both financial security as well as caring for others. This program is one example of how Thrivent Financial and its members work together to help others.
“Leon has proven his dedication to serve in our community,” said John Estes, managing partner of the Kansas - Missouri region of Thrivent Financial. “Whether he is helping a family plan for their future or when he is building a home with a family in another country, Leon is passionate about serving others. This life-changing trip to El Salvador will only increase his energy for service.”
Leon has invested his time, talent and resources in charitable causes in the Olathe area, including volunteering at Advent Lutheran Church, All Pro Dad’s breakfasts in Olathe, school activities with his kids and local Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity projects.
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 www.thriventbuilds.com.
About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.6 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.
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 more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.
Contacts:
Leon Bauman, (913)782-7314, leon.bauman@thrivent.com
Chester (Stan) Stanfield, 888-451-7955, stan.stanfield@thrivent.com
Kelsey Midthun, 612-844-5825, kelsey.midthun@thrivent.com