ACB: Press Releases

Contact:	Robert Schmermund (202) 857-3104 Jim Eberle (202) 857-3145	Jim Eberle (202) 857-3145 (work) (703) 893-2593 (home) [email protected]	For Immediate Release October 18, 2003
E-mail: [email protected]

CONGRESSMEN, AMERICA’S COMMUNITY BANKERS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEERS RAISE THE ROOF IN HENDERSON, NEVADA

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ACB News Center: Paris Las Vegas, Bourdeaux Room News Center Phone Numbers, Oct. 19-22: (702) 946-2206; (702) 946-2003, fax

HENDERSON, Nev., October 18, 2003 — America’s Community Bankers and its ACB Housing Partners Foundation, joined members of Congress to help build a Habitat for Humanity house in this Las Vegas suburb today.

U.S. Reps. Jon Porter (R-Nev.) and Bob Ney (R-Ohio), along with ACB volunteers in town for their annual convention, raised the walls of a house as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Congress Building America program. ACB is one of 14 national underwriters of Congress Building America, which invites members of Congress to join communities in their home districts in building houses and helping raise awareness about the need for affordable housing.

Congress Building America recently began as an initiative that represents a cooperative effort between Habitat for Humanity International, the U.S. Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and national corporate and non-profit sponsors. The program will produce new, affordable single-family homes and strengthen the network of affordable housing supporters. It will also highlight the importance of volunteerism by partnering members of Congress with local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build simple and decent homes.

At the build in Henderson, Rep. Ney said: “Congress Building America is a tangible way for members of Congress to work with great organizations like Habitat for Humanity and America’s Community Bankers to help families across the nation achieve the American dream of homeownership.”

Rep. Porter, whose district includes the home being built in Henderson, said: “I am delighted to join America’s Community Bankers and Habitat for Humanity in building a home with a Nevada family. Habitat’s commitment to affordable, decent housing is an example for all of us to follow. Across the country, ACB member community bankers are giving of themselves as community leaders, and we appreciate their generosity and their personal participation in building this Habitat home here today.”

For the third year in a row, ACB members are sponsoring a Habitat house as well as volunteering their time to help build the home in the city of their annual convention. Previous builds were held in San Francisco and New Orleans. ACB bankers and their spouses arrived early for this year’s annual convention in Las Vegas to build a Habitat home alongside the Goldstock family, who will be the homeowners of the ACB-sponsored home.

Susan Taylor, representing ACB Housing Partners Foundation, said: “Our build here in Henderson will mark the 13th consecutive year that the foundation, through the dedication of our members and spouses, has contributed in a meaningful and enduring way to charitable organizations making a difference in ACB convention cities. Since 1991, ACB Housing Partners Foundation has donated more than $1 million to worthy causes across the nation. All of us working together can take the first steps to help the Goldstock family own a home of their own.”

Diane Casey-Landry, president and CEO of America’s Community Bankers, said: “We believe that working with Habitat reinforces our community bankers’ commitment to housing and homeownership. ACB members don’t just provide loans to build houses. They help to build homes. And today is a very special day as we begin to build what will become the home for the Goldstock family. It’s a dream that’s being fulfilled by millions of other families across the country.”

“Today’s event is a wonderful example of partnership between the public, private and non-profit sectors of society,” said Tom Jones, vice-president of HFHI. “Habitat for Humanity is grateful to join with this outstanding national partner from the private sector, America’s Community Bankers, and with Reps. Porter and Ney, members of the U.S. Congress representing the public sector, who together personify the imperative of providing the opportunity to all families to achieve the American dream of homeownership, regardless of income level.”

America’s Community Bankers is the national trade association committed to shaping the future of banking by being the innovative industry leader strengthening the competitive position of community banks. To learn more about ACB, visit www.AmericasCommunityBankers.com.

Habitat for Humanity International is a Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates in more than 3,000 communities in 89 nations have built and sold more than 150,000 homes to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. www.habitat.org

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