FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Duane Bates                                                     Ann Felton, Chairman & CEO             

Habitat for Humanity International                     Central OK Habitat for Humanity, Inc. 

1-229-924-6935, ext. 2541                             (405) 232-4828

dbates@habitat.org                                          AnnFelton@cohfh.org

www.habitat.org/newsroom                              www.CentralOklahomaHabitat.org

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity welcomes national and local support for ‘Home Builders Blitz’

Oklahoma City, OK (May 18, 2006) – Both national and local partners are donating homebuilding materials and labor to Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country in support of the organization’s Home Builders Blitz, June 5-9.

“Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is building ten homes in just five days thanks to the ten local builder partners who are working with us,” said Ann Felton, Chairman & CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat.  “We are so grateful to all our partners in this project who are helping to make home ownership possible for low-income families,” she added.  “The efforts and sacrifice of our ten local builder partners, their subs and suppliers, and our national partners, are making these homes a reality.”

During the weeklong event, 1,000 professional builders will completely construct homes from start to finish, housing more than 1,000 people in 130 locations.  Habitat for Humanity International estimates that more than 400 homes will be built during the week.

The ten Oklahoma City area builders partnering with Central Oklahoma Habitat are Bridgeport Development, Gardner Tanenbaum Group, Heartland Homes, Home Creations, Homes by Taber, Ideal Homes, Johnston Builders, Oklahoma Home Centers, Southcreek Construction, and Tommy Huelskamp Homes.

The project is the single-largest building event in Habitat’s 30-year history.  It also engages professional builders to make affordable housing available in their communities by donating time, building materials, and subcontractor services to build homes in just one week.

National partners are doing their part by donating funds, homebuilding materials, and labor to Habitat builds across the country.  Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz national partners include:  Whirlpool Corporation, Dow, Ferguson Enterprises, Kohler Corporation, Yale, Square D, Valspar, Hunter Douglas, Larson Manufacturing Company, Rinnai Corporation, MASCO Corporation, National Arbor Day Foundation, and the National Housing Endowment.  National builder partners are Centex Homes and KB Homes.

For more information about Central Oklahoma Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz 2006 project, please visit www.CentralOklahomaHabitat.org.  For information on national partners, please go to www.habitat.org/buildersblitz/sponsors.aspx.

About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

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 will complete its 400^th home in central Oklahoma in June 2006.

www.CentralOklahomaHabitat.org

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing.  Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than one million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

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