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 15, 2005 #05-75
E-mail: [email protected]

ACB, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD HOME IN ORLANDO

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ORLANDO, Fla. „Ÿ Nearly 100 community bankers and their spouses — members of America’s Community Bankers and its ACB Housing Partners Foundation — helped build a Habitat for Humanity house today in Orlando, the host city of its annual convention. The family that will eventually occupy the home — Raquel Felix and her two young children — participated in the build.

ACB and ACB Housing Partners Foundation have fully sponsored the house with a contribution of $65,000. ACB’s philanthropic efforts to give back to the community that hosts its annual convention began in 1991 in Washington with a contribution to So Others Might Eat. Since then, the ACB foundation has given more than $1.3 million to local charities.

An estimated 1,500 bankers, directors, spouses and exhibitors are expected to attend the convention, which opens Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Marriott Grande Lakes Resort.

This is the fifth year that ACB has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a house in the host city of ACB’s annual convention. Previous builds were in New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.

“I am so proud of this build here in Orlando,” said Brenda Meyer, vice chair of Housing Partners and wife of F. Weller Meyer, the incoming chairman of ACB. “People come here to relax and to take advantage of all the recreational opportunities that Orlando offers. But even in this wonderful place, there is a need for decent, affordable housing, and the Orlando Habitat and its supporters are building it,” she added.

“We are grateful that America’s Community Bankers shares Habitat for Humanity’s concern for families enduring substandard conditions, and that this concern is manifested with active hands, generous donations and compassionate hearts,” said Dee Danmeyer, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Orlando. “Without the support of community minded organizations like ACB, Habitat could not succeed in its mission of eliminating substandard housing.”

This year’s build will become 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 partner with Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build a Habitat house in their respective home district or state, while helping to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing.

Congress Building America is an initiative that represents a cooperative effort among Habitat for Humanity International, the U.S. Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and national corporate and non-profit sponsors. The program produces new, affordable single-family homes and strengthens the network of affordable housing supporters. It also highlights the importance of volunteerism by partnering members of Congress in the construction of simple and decent homes.

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.

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