December 12, 2002 – Benton Harbor, Mich. – Whirlpool Corporation has memorialized its support for Habitat for Humanity® by sponsoring the Extra Mile medallion honoring Habitat for Humanity® founders Millard and Linda Fuller. The Extra Mile is a monument being constructed near the White House in Washington, DC. The Extra Mile - National Volunteer Pathway , a one mile pathway, honors founders of America's foremost volunteer movements and is coordinated by the Points of Light Foundation. On December 3-4, the Points of Light Foundation and former president George Bush, honored Eunice Kennedy Shriver for her establishment of the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity® founders Millard and Linda Fuller. Bronze medallions, each featuring Shriver and the Fullers, will soon be counted among the 70 hand-sculpted bronze medallions that will form THE EXTRA MILE-National Volunteer Pathway. Each medallion is 3-1/2 feet in diameter and includes a bas-relief likeness of the honoree together with information about their contribution. "Through their pioneering vision, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Millard and Linda Fuller have made their dreams of a better world come true. Their desire to go the extra mile to help others has made each more than one of a thousand points of light, it has made each of them one of just a handful of brightly burning stars," said Mr. Bush. As the only living recipients of this national honor, Kennedy Shriver and the Fullers have made significant contributions to benefit others. In 1976, Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity" International, which has donated money and materials, together with volunteer labor, to build or renovate dwellings that are then sold at cost to needy families that pay for them with no-interest mortgages. With Millard as President and Linda playing a key role, Habitat has built more than 125,000 homes for families in more than 1,600 U.S. cities and 87 countries. "We are extremely proud and happy to help honor the vision and outstanding accomplishments of Millard and Linda Fuller," said Ted Dosch, Whirlpool's vice president of Finance in North America. In 1956, Eunice Kennedy Shriver changed the primary focus of the Joseph Kennedy Foundation, to researching the prevention of mental retardation and teaching others to accept those with mental disabilities as contributing members of society. In 1968, she founded Special Olympics, an international year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation. From relatively modest beginnings, Special Olympics has grown to become the largest program in the world for sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation. More than one million athletes in 150 countries now compete in 26 sports. More than 15,000 games, meets, and tournaments provide year-round opportunities for mentally disabled individuals to develop physical fitness and experience the joy of participation. Edgar J. Helms, founder of Goodwill Industries, was the first EXTRA MILE honoree; others are: Clara Barton, who began the American Red Cross; Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of the civil rights movement; and Susan B. Anthony, architect of the women's right to vote movement. > back
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