The University of Findlay Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter Receives $10,000 Matching Grant from State Farm

FINDLAY, Ohio, Dec. 18 --University of Findlay issued the following news release:

The University of Findlay Habitatfor Humanity Campus Chapter (http://www.findlay.edu/offices/student/campuscompact/UF-Habitat-for-Humanity-Campus-Chapter) has been selected to receive a $10,000 matching grant from State Farm for its outstanding work in building affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.

For information about donating to help the campus chapter raise the $10,000 match by May 10, 2014, please contact Crystal Weitz at 419-434-6671 or [email protected].

A campus chapter is a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to build, fundraise, advocate and educate to support the work of Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/). The University of Findlay Campus Chapter partners with Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and has helped build and rehabilitate more than 20 houses since 2002.

"This grant is an amazing opportunity for us to complete the final stretch of the six-year dream to build the first UF-sponsored house. We are so grateful to have received this grant and the opportunity it brings," said chapter president Ingrid Godfrey, a junior animal science and biology major from Wexford, Pa.

The University of Findlay Campus Chapter is one of 16 campus chapters to be awarded a matching grant from State Farm and must raise a matching amount.

Scheduled fundraising activities include performing household chores at faculty and staff homes, dining deals at local restaurants, and a 5K Glow Walk/Run in the spring. Contact Weitz for details about these activities.

Since 2008, The University of Findlay Campus Chapter has been working to sponsor a home for a local family in need. The students have raised $53,000 of the $75,000 needed for house sponsorship. In both 2008 and 2011, UF received a $5,000 matching grant from State Farm.

With the new grant funding and the $10,000 match, the group will be just $2,000 award from the $75,000 goal at the end of this academic year. Being able to shift the group's primary focus from fundraising will allow the students to learn from their service in other areas of house sponsorship, such as leadership, communication, public relations and volunteer coordination.

Because students have been working toward this goal since 2008, many UF alumni and past donors have assisted with laying the foundation for this service project. UF has a House Sponsorship Committee, which is working closely with Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County to give students the mentoring and leadership experience with local engaged community leaders. The house will be built by UF students and alumni in the fall of 2015.

"Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County wants to express our deepest thanks for State Farm's commitment to The University of Findlay Campus Chapter. Their support has repeatedly played a key role in our success to eliminate poverty housing. There is no way to fully express our gratitude for their loyalty. We at Habitat are continually inspired by the dedication and generosity of donors like State Farm who answer the call to give again and again," said Wendy McCormick, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County executive director.

The Campus Chapters program is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage youth ages 5 to 25 in Habitat's work. In addition to the ongoing support State Farm offices provide to local Habitat affiliates across the United States, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity's youth programs since 2007.

About The University of Findlay Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter

The University of Findlay Campus Chapter was started in 2002. Since then, the campus chapter has grown into an active, engaged student organization with annual membership of more than 60 students. The campus chapter takes an annual Collegiate Challenge trip to a southern state to build a house and completed its first Global Village trip to Nicaragua in 2013. The campus chapter actively educates the campus community about poverty and housing issues through annual events and hands-on activities.

About Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need in Hancock County. Since 2000, the affiliate has worked with 30 families to build homes, opened a ReStore in 2010, and began a new Home Repair program in 2013. For more information, visit www.habitatfindlay.org or contact the office at 419-429-1400.

About Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.

About State Farm:

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance (http://www.statefarm.com/) in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes (http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/quote/arq.asp), their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com (http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/business/bus_auto.asp) or in Canadahttp://www.statefarm.ca.

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