Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH) and representatives from Thrivent Financial dedicated a brand new Habitat house to the Reese family on Tuesday, September 27th , as part of the 2016 Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program. The house construction was started on July 22nd and finished this week in time for the House Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

The keys to the new Habitat house on East Castle Street in Murfreesboro were presented to the Reese Family by Thrivent Financial Associate Robert Seda and Partner Luke Ficken. The family joined the Habitat homeowner program last year and completed the mandatory 30-week Financial and Homeowner Education Program as well as 300 hours of "sweat equity", and qualified for the Habitat for Humanity 0-interest mortgage so they can own their home. Members of the Reese family worked on building their own home as well as other Habitat house constructions and also participated in the Thrivent Builds "Panel Build" at Stones River Mall in June, where all the walls were built for this house in just five hours.

Construction of the house was done by RCHFH's construction staff, Habitat Future Homeowners completing their 300-400 hours of "sweat equity", including the Reese family, and 238 volunteers from Rutherford County schools, churches, organizations and companies, totaling over 1540 volunteer hours. Earlier this year, RCHFH was awarded a grant of $60,500 from Thrivent Financial to support the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity house construction project. Additional financial support came from RCHFH's "House of Faith" church members, The Big Payback fund-raising campaign of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT.org), Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, United Way of Rutherford & Cannon Counties, Pinnacle Bank and Mahle North America. In-kind donors included Schneider Electric, Dow Products, Whirlpool, GAF roofing materials, Hunter Douglas, Valspar, Home Energy Professionals, Pinnacle Building Services, Guardian Security Systems, Buster McAlpin, Ken's One Stop Exterminating, Signs by Scott, Family Worship Center, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The Pottery Place, SVP Worldwide and Shacklett's Photography.

Volunteers on the house build site included Thrivent Financial members, Advent Lutheran Church, New Hope Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church - East Castle, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, St. Rose of Lima KOC, Rhythm City Church, LifePoint Baptist Church, Bethel United Methodist Church, Lighthouse Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Christ the King Bible Fellowship, Halloway High School, Mahle North America and United Way of Rutherford & Cannon Counties.

Thrivent Builds is an ongoing multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial, which helps create safe, decent, affordable housing across the globe. Since the national partnership's inception in 2005, Thrivent Financial and its members have committed $226 million and 4.7 million volunteer hours around the world. Thrivent Financial remains the largest non-governmental supporter of Habitat for Humanity International.

"It's inspiring to work alongside Habitat families, Thrivent members and others to build and repair homes," said Luke Ficken, Thrivent Financial Partner. "Sharing our time and talents helps us live generously and strengthen our community." "We are extremely grateful to Thrivent Financial and its members for their continued support of Habitat for Humanity," said Terri Shultz, Executive Director, RCHFH. "Because of this generosity, more families will have a safe, affordable place to call home."

For more information about Thrivent Builds programs, visit Thriventbuilds.com. To learn about local volunteer opportunities, visit www.rchfh.org.