FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

First Lady Champions Habitat for Humanity Women Build

KANSAS CITY –First Lady Melanie Blunt today was on site at Habitat for Humanity Kansas City’s Women Build, where she applauded volunteers and congratulated the Branch family who are soon to be Habitat homeowners.

“Habitat for Humanity has great opportunities for women volunteers,” Mrs. Blunt said. “I am proud to be here today with women who have realized they hold the solution to provide families a simple, decent affordable place to live and that their time and effort can make a difference in a family’s life. I am honored to lend my support to this worthy cause and to help the Branch family realize their dream of home ownership.” 

The visit is part of First Families Building Homes Across America, a two-year program of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program.  All homes built as part of the First Families program will be Habitat Women Build homes. The Women Build program was created to encourage women to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. This is the third Women Build project taken on by Habitat Kansas City and will add to the more than 1,000 Habitat for Humanity houses built by women crews throughout the United States. Women make up 50 percent of Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers. The Women Build program helps spur female volunteers and increases the number of houses Habitat can build. 

As First Lady, Mrs. Blunt has volunteered much of her time to focus on women’s and children’s wellness.  The Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build program provides an opportunity for women to make a contribution to their community that can help expand new opportunities to improve children’s growth, health and potential.

Gov. Matt Blunt and their son Branch also visited the site with the First Lady.

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