Thrivent Financial & Habitat for Humanity – 

2000 Homes & Counting

 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity have been working together since 2006 in an alliance to help further Habitat’s goal of eliminating inadequate housing throughout the world, and have recently  completed their 2000^th home! Thrivent Builds combines the building and project management talents of Habitat, with the volunteer support and financial resources of Thrivent and Lutheran church members. Thrivent has recently committed to support the building of 181 additional homes in 37 states in 2010, bringing its 5 year financial contribution to over $140 million.

During the past four years, Thrivent Builds’ integrated effort has resulted in the construction of more than 1,300 homes in the United States, engaging more than 350,000 volunteers who contributed nearly 2.5 million hours. The Thrivent Builds Worldwide program gave Thrivent members and other  volunteers an opportunity to build homes abroad, or in select U.S. locations. Approximately 4,000 volunteers forming 350 different teams traveled to build nearly 700 homes in 32 countries. “Thrivent Financial’s alliance with Habitat for Humanity has improved thousands of lives around the world,” said           Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Thrivent Financial has helped us deepen the impact of our work, and we are truly  humbled by the servant leadership Thrivent and its members have displayed.”                                                                                      

Looking forward, our Loveland Habitat Affiliate will team up with our Thrivent Chapter in 2010 to build our fifth house! This is both a great honor, and a great responsibility, as it will take a commitment of time, resources, and money to get the job done. Based on our community’s past record of social ministry, I have no doubt we’ll come through with flying colors. The family & address have yet to be chosen – we expect that announcement in early March.

The program has various components that I will reiterate here from past correspondence, but for more details, feel free to visit http://www.thriventbuilds.com.  The project will be set up like this:      

            -Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides 65% of the cost of the house   

             -Loveland Habitat provides 25% of the cost                                                          

-Fundraising through Lutheran churches and In Kind donations make up the final 10%                                                                        

-In Kind donations can include labor that Habitat would normally pay for, including electrical, plumbing, and blown in insulation work; as well as specific donations of materials, including roofing supplies,     lumber, doors, windows, paint, plumbing and electrical supplies,  landscaping, concrete, and various other supplies.

-At least 50% of the volunteers on site (whether doing costrution, providing meals, conducting devotions, cleaning up, or landscaping) will be Lutheran

-At least 25% of the volunteers will be Thrivent Financial for Lutheran members

-A Congregation Champion helps coordinate volunteers and fundraising activities in their church – at Trinity that is Jean Weiss - 593-1173

The plan is for Trinity to provide volunteers for several Saturdays during the upcoming year, beginning in early April. Look for a sign-up sheet on the church bulletin board. There will also be many opportunities for individuals to come in on Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout the build time. If you would like to share in this great project, please give me a call, or contact your congregation Champion. If you would like to make a specific donation of labor or materials, or volunteer individually, please contact    Marjie in the Habitat office at 669-9769, and mention Thrivent Builds. I look forward to working with you!

Tom Aberle, Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialist 225-2939