Photo of volunteers' hands hard at work.
Thrivent Builds
Thrivent Builds Homes 2009 Blitzes House #1: Apr 19 - May 9
House #2: Sep 19 - Oct 10
Major Sponsor:
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Participating Thrivent Chapters:
Oklahoma County
FLASH: The THRIVENT BUILDS MOBILE will be arriving in Oklahoma City to help celebrate dedication of Central Oklahoma Habitat’s first of two THRIVENT BUILDS homes being built in 2009.
Saturday, May 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., come experience the THRIVENT BUILDS MOBILE and see, feel, and hear for yourself the experience of poverty housing in America. It may change the way you think!
House #1
Anita, at age 43, is still raising her youngest daughter, Devyn (12), while also raising five grandchildren: DeCorion (4), twins Darius and Katrina (3), Derion (2), and Bianca (1).
In addition to managing her family, Anita works as a Global Services Project Manager for a local company.
The little ones are all very active, so Devyn does everything she can to help her mom.
This family is so excited about moving from their 2-bedroom apartment into a 4-bedroom Habitat house. Anita says that their situation “can be hard at times, but with the help of the Lord, we make it.”
Thank you, Thrivent and all our Lutheran partners for helping open the door to a new life for this hard working, deserving family!
Total project cost - 2 houses: $154,000
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans: 100,100
Central OK Habitat for Humanity: 38,500
Local funds raised: $15,400
View photos of this event on Flickr
Wall-raising is Good News for Affordable Housing in OKC!
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans® join together to increase affordable housing in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City, OK (April 16, 2009) - Times are tough and the construction of new homes has slowed considerably across the country. But here in Oklahoma City, Anita C. and family have embarked on a three-week adventure that will result in their moving into their first home of their own - a dream Anita, raising her youngest daughter and five grandchildren, never thought would be realized. Construction kicked off at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, at 816 NE 83rd Street and is wrapping up with a dedication ceremony Saturday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m.
This new home is a result of an alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, this alliance has resulted in thousands of decent, affordable homes across the country since 2005. Thanks to its 2.6 million members who own financial products with the organization, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is able to help build affordable housing in Oklahoma City and many other communities across the nation. The Thrivent Builds alliance also engages volunteers””members of Thrivent Financial and area Lutheran churches””to work alongside the partner families to build these homes.
Anita is more than a little eager to finish construction of her family’s new home. She has completed 300 hours of “sweat equity” working on Habitat projects, helping to build others’ homes as well as her own. This is a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity. She will also repay the no-profit mortgage over a period of 20 years, illustrating Habitat for Humanity’s objective to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.”
“Being able to help provide a family with a home means so much to Thrivent members,” states Daryl Osmus, Financial Consultant with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “Volunteering is important to them, and this gives them a great way to personally support our community by helping families achieve financial security.”
To learn more, visit http://www.thriventbuilds.com.
About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that provides affordable housing for hard-working, limited-income families. The organization has now built 518 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990, all sold at cost and with no interest charged. For more information, call (405) 232-4828.
About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
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. Thrivent Financial has main offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Appleton, Wis. For more information, visit http://www.thrivent.com.
