August 30, 1999 – Benton Harbor, Mich. – Whirlpool Corporation today announced it would donate $5 million in appliances for homes built by Habitat for Humanity® International. Under the plan, a new Whirlpool brand refrigerator and range would be provided for each Habitat for Humanity® home built by local affiliates in the United States and Canada. "We are truly grateful to Whirlpool for this very generous donation," said Millard Fuller, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity®. "Thousands of families will benefit from this partnership." In addition, Whirlpool employees are signing up to work on a Habitat home build in Benton Harbor, location of Whirlpool's corporate headquarters. The project, scheduled to begin in the next several weeks, is being coordinated through Habitat's local affiliate, Harbor Habitat for Humanity®. Similar projects are underway in other Whirlpool plant locations throughout the United States and Canada with local affiliates. Whirlpool Foundation has pledged a $20,000 grant toward the cost of building the Benton Harbor house, and donations from Whirlpool employees will be doubled through the Foundation's matching gift program, according to Jay Van Den Berg, Foundation chairman and Whirlpool vice president of Administration and Community Relations. "This partnership between Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity® is designed to support the nonprofit organization locally and nationally," said Mike Thieneman, executive vice president, Whirlpool North America Region (NAR). "It symbolizes the spirit of our company and the heart of our people." Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity® will collaborate in marketing and promotional campaigns with consumers and trade partners to raise awareness of Habitat's goal to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness by building adequate housing with those who need it. Habitat for Humanity® International, based in Americus, Georgia, is a nonprofit, ecumenical organization that brings together people with resources and people in need to build simple, decent, affordable housing. The houses are sold to homeowners at no profit and financed through zero-interest mortgages. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, the company manufactures in 13 countries and markets products under 11 major brand names in more than 170 countries. > back
	Home > Press Room > Whirlpool Corporation Pledges $5 Million in Appliances to Habitat for Humanity® Employees and Whirlpool Foundation Plan Local Home Build