Thrivent Builds Homes - Groundbreaking Wallraising Roofraising News Release Template

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Updated media relations materials instructions

Below is a compliance approved template for distribution to your local media. If you edit the news release beyond the highlighted fields, additional compliance approval is needed. Contact the Media Relations team for assistance.

Customizing a news release or financial column

1. Type your name, e-mail address, phone number [and CA/AR Insurance ID #_____ if licensed in California or Arkansas] in the upper-left corner of the release under Contacts.
2. In all remaining text, personalize ONLY the highlightedfields.
3. Please choose the appropriate text noted as [OPTIONAL] at the bottom of the column as fits your personal situation. One of the four options MUST BE USED if located at the bottom of the document.
4. Be sure to remove all highlights and brackets after you’ve updated the fields.
5. If including an office address ensure address matches your U4 designated branch office address (business cards and letterhead).
6. Financial Column Instructions
7. Financial columns are published in a media outlet and are typically prepared for you with a personal perspective. As such, quotes should be a home office resource to avoid quoting yourself. Please contact Media Relations for resource information if it is not already provided in the template.
8. News Release Instructions
9. News releases can be used to distribute information or generate story ideas for a reporter. If using a news release template in this manner, insert your name in the quote.

Instructions for distribution to your local media

* Building relationships with your local media can be beneficial. Please note that while news releases MAY generate coverage for you; journalists are under no obligation to use this information.

1. To distribute, copy and paste the text of the news release into the body of an email. You can then send to a specific individual (a business editor, news director, community calendar editor) or email box (, ) at your outlet of choice. It is recommended that you send releases individually if sending to multiple outlets. Do not send releases as email attachments.
2. If you would like to include a photo, include a notation that a photo is available upon request.
3. If including a short introductory note in your email, separate it fully from the news release or column.
4. Remember to not include this first page of instructions when distributing but include everything else including your contact information, disclosures and the compliance number (if applicable).

Questions?

For assistance or questions, contact Media Relations at

Associated PressState Abbreviations * Not Abbreviated:

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NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:

FirstNameLastName, E-mailAddress, PhoneNumber

Groundbreaking/wall raising/other eventis good news for affordable housing in City Name!

Local Habitat name and Thrivent join together to increase affordable housing in city name. Community is invited to a Groundbreaking/wall raising/other event to celebrate.

CITY, State Abbreviation (Month Date, Year)– Here in City Namethe Name of familyfamily will mark an important milestone in the construction of their new home—and the community is invited to join in on the fun! The Event begins at Time on Date at the construction site at Home address. Along with local Habitat for Humanity representatives and Thrivent members, Local Celebrity/Politician/OtherSpokesperson will speak during a short program.

This new home is a result of Thrivent members Living Generously through the partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent. Thepartnership has empowered Thrivent members and other volunteers to help build or repair over4,800Habitat homes across the countrysince 2005. In addition, over 1,100 home building trips have taken place internationally and domestically through the partnership. Thanks to the more than 2.3 million members of Thrivent,and other volunteers, Habitat for Humanity is able to contribute to the improvement of communities like name of city where new home is located.

Thrivent contributed half of the house costs—a total of $XXXX—and is also engaging local volunteers who are members of Thrivent, area churches, and members of the community as a whole, to donate additional funds and volunteer their time to work alongside the future homeowner families to build these homes.

Insert appropriate quote here from suitable Habitat affiliate spokesperson

The Partner family last namefamily is excited to finish construction of their new home. They will complete Number hours of “sweat equity” helping to build it, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity. They will also repay the no-profit mortgage over a period of Numberyears, illustrating Habitat for Humanity’s objective to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.”

Insert appropriate quote from Thrivent CET, Financial Representative or other person who will be speaking at the event.

To learn more, visit and local Habitat office website.

OPTIONAL: Photos available upon request

About [Habitat Affiliate Name]

[Affiliate Boilerplate]

About Thrivent and Habitat for Humanity

Thrivent has been a national partner of Habitat for Humanity since 2005. The partnership is designed to involve Thrivent members and other volunteers to improve communities by working alongside families in need of a decent place to live all across the U.S. and around the world. Together with its volunteers, Thrivent has constructed and repaired more than 4,800 homes in the U.S. and has sent over 1,200 build teams around the world. Thrivent remains the largest non-governmental supporter of Habitat for Humanity International. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.

About Thrivent
Thrivent is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously. As a membership organization, it offers its more than 2.3 million members a broad range of products, services and guidance from financial representatives nationwide. For more than a century it has helped members make wise money choices that reflect their values while providing them opportunities to demonstrate their generosity where they live, work and worship. For more information, visit Thrivent.com/why. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.