September 25, 2006 . . .
Experience substandard
housing:
One-of-a-kind mobile
exhibit arriving at
Oktoberfest in La Crosse
Experience
substandard housing:
One-of-a-kind mobile
exhibit arriving at
Oktoberfest in La Crosse
Thrivent Builds Mobile
part of $105 million
alliance with Habitat
for Humanity.
Substandard housing -
with its corresponding
sights, sounds and feel
- will soon be rolling
into La Crosse.
Literally.
Thanks to a
one-of-a-kind mobile
exhibit sponsored by
Habitat for Humanity
International and
Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, visitors to
the “Thrivent Builds
Mobile” will experience
the sights, sounds and
feel of substandard
housing as well as what
they can do to address
this issue. The exhibit
is designed to rally
thousands of individuals
and organizations to
advocate, donate, and
participate in Habitat’s
effort to build
affordable, decent and
safe housing.
The free exhibit is a
67-foot semi truck
featuring video
testimonials from real
families that have
worked with Habitat as
well as replicas of
substandard housing
punctuated with
lighting, sound and
movement in a 10-minute
experience connecting
visitors physically and
emotionally with the
problem of substandard
housing. It also
highlights the benefits
of decent housing and
opportunities for
individuals to make a
positive difference.
The Mobile will be in La
Crosse at Oktoberfest on
the south end:
• 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.,
Fri., Sept. 29
• 1 - 9 p.m., Sat.,
Sept. 30
• 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.,
Sun., Oct. 1
“This experience will
open your eyes and your
heart to the problem of
substandard housing,”
said Todd Trautmann, the
visit coordinator for
the exhibit and
financial consultant
with Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans. “The
Thrivent Builds Mobile
shows how everyone can
take part in addressing
this issue.”
“Substandard housing is
a global problem, but
it’s also a problem that
touches the lives of
people right here in our
own community,” said
Cori Skolaski, executive
director of Habitat for
Humanity La Crosse Area.
“Unfortunately, until a
person has seen and
experienced this need,
it often remains a
problem that is hidden
from view.”
The Mobile is part of a
four-year, $105 million
alliance between
Thrivent Financial and
Habitat for Humanity.
More than 13 million
U.S. households pay more
than half of their
income for housing.
Millions more live in
overcrowded conditions
or reside in housing
with severe physical
deficiencies, such as
having no hot water,
electricity or toilet.
Called Thrivent Builds
with Habitat for
Humanity, the alliance
will result in the
construction of more
than 300 U.S. Habitat
homes, engage thousands
of volunteers and result
in approximately 50
short-term Habitat home
building trips here and
abroad in 2006 alone.
Originally set at $100
million, $5 million was
added for hurricane
recovery in the Gulf
Coast region. The new
alliance makes Thrivent
Financial Habitat’s
largest ally in the
organization’s 30-year
history.
About La Crosse Area
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is
a nonprofit Christian
housing ministry
dedicated to building
decent, affordable
housing in partnership
with those in need in
the La Crosse area.
Since 1992, La Crosse
Area Habitat for
Humanity has helped to
house 21 families. For
more information, visit
www.habitatlacrosse.org
or
www.habitat.org.
About Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans
and the Northwoods
Wisconsin and Upper
Peninsula Michigan
Region of Thrivent
Financial
Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans is a
not-for-profit Fortune
500 financial services
organization helping
nearly 3 million members
achieve their financial
goals and give back to
their communities.
Thrivent Financial is a
faith-based membership
organization called to
improve the quality of
life of its members,
their families and
communities by providing
solutions that focus on
financial security,
wellness and caring for
others. Locally, the
Northwoods of Wisconsin
and Upper Peninsula
Region comprises 63
financial
representatives who
provide financial
products and services to
more than 72,000 people
in Western Wisconsin and
the UP of Michigan.
Together with its
members, Thrivent
Financial’s Northwoods
Wisconsin and Upper
Peninsula of Michigan
Region provided more
than $6.2 million in
charitable outreach in
2005. For more
information, contact
Betty Qualheim, Lutheran
Community Service
Specialist at
800-340-9302 or visit
www.thrivent.com.
