January 10, 2000 – Benton Harbor, Mich. – Starting on Friday, a team of Whirlpool Corporation volunteers -- all of whom are women -- will build a Habitat for Humanity® house during the International Builders' (IBS) Show in Dallas. The women will include Whirlpool employees from 11 U.S. manufacturing facilities, volunteers from the Habitat for Humanity® affiliate in the Dallas area and Linda Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity® International. These groups will build the home from Jan. 14 to 17 outside Hall A of the Dallas Convention Center. After the show, the home will be moved to a permanent location. Our company is currently donating a Whirlpool range and refrigerator to every Habitat home built in the United States and Canada. The Whirlpool brand is expanding this relationship with Habitat for Humanity® by partnering on 20 Whirlpool-Habitat Women Build projects across the country. At these 20 projects, crews of women will construct the home from foundation to completion. The Whirlpool-Habitat Women Build projects seek to promote the involvement of women in the construction of Habitat houses. The Women Build effort fosters a sense of empowerment and boosts self-esteem. The project also allows women to develop new skills. "Women Build offers women the opportunity to learn construction skills in a less intimidating environment," Fuller said. "The camaraderie itself is empowering. Volunteers bring us a step closer to Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing, and women learn building and repair skills that help them manage their own households." "We are proud to be a part of the Women Build projects," said Whirlpool's Paula Cacossa, director of Customer Loyalty and Relationships. "Part of Whirlpool's mission is to provide support for women and families. We truly believe that providing women with the right tools will help make lives better." Women make up 50 percent of Habitat's volunteer force, yet often, because of lack of training, they account for less than 15 percent of work on the construction site. In the United States, 47.5 percent of Habitat for Humanity® houses are built for women who are heads of household. > back
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