Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley has been awarded $125,000, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build a home in 2010 through its alliance with Thrivent Builds.

A nationwide alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to build hope for low-income families amidst economic difficulties. Since 2005, it has given more than 2,000 families the opportunity to live in simple, decent, affordable homes. In 2010, this nationwide alliance, entitled Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, will contribute more than $13 million to help build another 181 affordable homes in 37 states and the District of Columbia.

Locally, Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley has been awarded $125,000, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build a home in 2010 through this alliance. This home will be built as part of the Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley Morgan Hill project by area volunteers, 50 percent of which will be Lutheran. The Habitat partner families also will invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their homes. Construction on the Thrivent Builds home will begin next month and will be completed by December 31, 2010.

“This is our fourth Thrivent Builds home in the Silicon Valley,” said Jennifer Simmons, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley. "Thrivent Builds brings individuals and groups from the community together with the common goal of giving the crucial and fundamental gift of homeownership to families in need. It's an incredible level of support, both financially and in volunteer power, and leaves such a long-lasting impact on the communities in which we build.”

Building 181 homes across the country is a huge undertaking. Based on actual numbers from the four previous years of the alliance, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity expects more than 100,000 volunteers and the home-buying partner families to work side-by-side to complete these 181 decent, affordable homes a total investment of more than 600,000 volunteer hours on the construction sites.

“I love Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity,” said Joanne McDonough, financial associate for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “It has been a real honor to work with our home office, Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley and some extraordinary volunteers from Santa Clara County chapters and Lutheran churches.”