In 2005, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International joined together to create Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, a four-year, $125 million program designed to help address the complex issue of poverty housing.

Miami Habitat was grateful to be selected as one of Thrivent's parnter affiliates. In the first year of the partnership, Thrivent Builds sponsored Barbara Horton's house in Jordan Commons. Last year, Thrivent built Virginia Gilbert's house in Scott-Carver. This year, Thrivent members will return to Jordan Commons to work on Mario Ten and Helen Tolentino's home.

Nationally, in Thrivent Builds' first two years, the program funded construction for more than 650 homes in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers helped build the homes. In 2008, the program is being expanded to house 324 more families in 42 states, at a cost of approximately $35.9 million. Thrivent Financial provides 65 percent of the construction costs for each home, with remaining funding generated locally by Thrivent chapters, Habitat affiliates, and other volunteers from the community. More than 290 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapters will be involved.

The program was expanded in response to the significant interest and involvement by thousands of Thrivent Financial members. “It makes a difference to Thrivent and to our members that we can help more families with this large step toward economic self-sufficiency,” said Bruce J. Nicholson, chairman, president and CEO of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has provided a way for us to positively affect so many people’s lives —both now and in the future.”

Past featured sponors:

Baptist Health South Florida

Cordis Corporation

St. John Neumann Catholic Church

Assurant

Publix Super Markets Charities