Governor Granholm Celebrates Harbor Habitat’s 100th New Home in Benton Harbor Community
LANSING, MI – July 20, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today visited Harbor Habitat’s 100th build in the Benton Harbor community and said volunteering to help build a home for others offers a rewarding opportunity.
At the build site, the governor presented a tribute congratulating Harbor Habitat and its volunteers for their hard work and for making a difference in their community and the lives of Michigan citizens.
“Congratulations to Harbor Habitat for Humanity and its hundreds of volunteers on achieving this milestone of 100 homes built in Benton Harbor,” Granholm said. “Habitat volunteers embrace the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives and their community. So this milestone is also a celebration of the human spirit, and a testament to what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal.”
The new house will be dedicated July 24 at Harbor Habitat’s Centennial House Celebration. It is one of six new houses Harbor Habitat plans to build on Butternut Street during the 2010 build season.
The 100th house will become the home of Myron Stubbs and his family. Two years ago, Stubbs and his three young children, Malik, Christine and Renada, were living in the Benton Harbor Emergency Shelter. The shelter also provided Stubbs employment at its resale store. Stubbs has since moved into an apartment in Benton Harbor as he prepares for homeownership.
This summer the governor, First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern and members of their family from around the country gathered for a family reunion and used the opportunity to volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity build.
The First Family has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Michigan and other Habitat affiliates across the state to elevate the need and importance of community service. The MI Family Builds Michigan initiative will not only help Habitat to build quality, affordable homes, but also demonstrate how community service can help speed Michigan’s recovery from the recession and the mortgage foreclosure crisis.
For more information on the MI Family Builds Michigan initiative, visit www.michigan.gov/mifamily
About Harbor Habitat for Humanity
Harbor Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)3 non-profit housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing, in partnership with those in need, in the city of Benton Harbor and Benton Charter Township. This year, the organization celebrates its 15th year in the Benton Harbor community, and has helped more than 100 families become new homeowners while revitalizing communities during its history. Harbor Habitat for Humanity provides interest-free mortgages to individuals willing to work 300 hours to build their own home in an effort to give a hand up, not a handout. For more information, visit harborhabitat.org.
About Habitat Michigan
Located in Lansing, Michigan, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan (HFHM) is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides support to the 77 Michigan affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International through training, consulting and fundraising.
Their mission is to assist the Michigan affiliates in increasing capacity to build simple decent homes in partnership with people in need in the state of Michigan. In 2009, Michigan affiliates built or rehabbed 235 homes in partnership with people in need. Currently, 3,225 Michigan families live in a Habitat for Humanity home. Starting in 2010, Michigan affiliates are building all homes using green and sustainable building techniques. Every home built will meet or exceed Energy Star energy efficiency ratings. For more information, visit www.habitatmichigan.org or call 517-485-1509.
Contact:
Tiffany Brown 517-335-6397
