Thrivent Builds

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is building on their commitment in the Thrivent Builds! Habitat of Monroe County awarded a grant to build two more homes.

Habitat of Monroe County will be able to build two additional houses thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for $135,850 and their Monroe Chapter with Lutheran Churches to raise matching monies of $20,950. Read about the two Thrivent Builds recipient families who will move into the homes.

This is the third year that Thrivent Financial has helped Habitat locally with grants for two houses each year. Their members have also been successful in raising the match funding for the past two years and providing enough volunteers to build the homes. Habitat Board, staff, and families are very much appreciative and thankful for all their past assistance and continued commitment for 2008 building.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a nonprofit organization that helps nearly 3 million members with their financial goals. With their monies, Thrivent has donated an additional $20 million to Habitat on a national level. It recently announced an increase in its four-year commitment to $125 million. Of that amount, $23.2 million will be used this year to build 322 Habitat homes in 42 states.

Already, our members have helped build more than 650 homes with families across the United States in need of simple, decent, affordable housing.

Together, we're helping families achieve economic independence!

Wall-raising celebration raises Habitat home to new heights

Building on the solid foundation of the dream of homeownership, the Clark and Seguin family's homes in Orchard East neighborhood of the City of Monroe will celebrate an important milestone and you're invited to join in the fun.

Mark your calendars and come out to the wall-raising celebration for our area's newest Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity homes. The wall-raising celebration at 8:00AM on June 13, 2008 at the corner of Fernwood and Bayview. For more information, contact Sally Pritchett at 734-243-2048, or visit Thrivent Builds.

All Lutheran churches wanting to participate in the Thrivent Builds have to complete the Letter of Support (Word: 58K). The completed Letter of Support is due by May 15, 2008, and can be sent to Sally Pritchett by email, fax (734-243-5770), or by US Mail to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, 840 LaPlaisance Rd., Monroe, MI 48161.

As your church completes fundraisers for the Thrivent Build, please fill out your fundraising activity report (PDF: 85K). The fundraising activity report can be sent to Sally Pritchett by email, fax (734-243-5770), or by US Mail to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, 840 LaPlaisance Rd., Monroe, MI 48161.

Thrivent Builds Recipient Families

The Seguin family, with parents Clayton and Holly have two children; Blake, 12, and Izabelle, 9. Clayton works at Saylor as a plasterer and Holly is a cook at Bob Evans Restaurant.

Holly writes: "We currently can only afford a small rental house with the children sharing the one bedroom and my husband and me sleeping on a bed in the living room with no privacy. The bedroom is only large enough for bunk beds and a few toys with no dresser space for their clothes. Our son is getting older and shouldn't have to share a bedroom with his little sister."

"We were ecstatic and really couldn't believe it at first when Habitat called and told us we were selected to be part of the Habitat family. We won't have to live like a bunch of sardines anymore! It is wonderful!"

"We are so thankful that Thrivent Financial organization is funding and providing volunteers to help us build our home. We have always wanted to be homeowners and Habitat has given us the chance to do so."

The Clark family, with parents Michael and Dana have a blended family with their children: Matthew, 13, Felisha, 12, Phillip, 9, Thomas, 6 and Michael, Jr., 13 months old.

Dana writes: "I am a college student at Monroe County Community College and working full-time at Meier's Distribution Warehouse."

"Michael is on disability and able to be "Mr. Mom" for our children. We currently live in a two bedroom apartment that is not adequate living quarters for everyone. A shared, unsafe parking lot serves as a yard for the children to play and escape the overcrowded living conditions of the apartment.""

"We all were so very excited and overwhelmed to know that our family was accepted and would be able to become a homeowner, especially since this was our second time to fill-out an application. I didn't feel that my dream of being a homeowner would ever happen."

"I would like to thank Thrivent Financial, their Chapter, and all the Lutheran Churches for your help and support that provides a new beginning with a more safe and structured life for our children."