Help Raise the walls on the HYP House

PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2008

Austin Habitat’s Young Professionals (HYP) to Raise the Walls on the Nation’s 1st-Ever Fully –Sponsored Young Professionals House

Following the great success of the 2008 ‘Build The HYP’ Gala [May 24 at the Long Center], which raised over $74,000 for Austin Habitat for Humanity, Austin Habitat’s Young Professionals (HYP) will raise the walls on the first-ever fully-funded Young Professionals-sponsored Habitat House in the US.

The wall raising will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, and will bring together 30 volunteers to will work hand in hand with the Verdin family, who will move out of their overcrowded living situation and into a home of their own with a yard for their children to play in. Before moving into their new home, The Verdin family will have devoted 400 hours of sweat equity to their home and other Habitat homes, as well as completed 24 classes on financial management, home maintenance and home ownership.

“This achievement is a testament to the generous spirit of HYP members and our friends in the Austin community, who freely give their time and resources to eliminate poverty housing in Central Texas,” says Robbi Weniger, 2008 HYP co-chair. “Even though the Gala was the result of months of hard work, it is remarkable that the proceeds from one evening of celebration will have a life-changing impact on the Verdin family.”

In addition to the funds raised to fully sponsor the Verdin Family Home, HYP raises additional funds through its membership to support the annual operations of Austin Habitat for Humanity (AHFH). Thus far in 2008, HYP has raised over $100,000 towards AHFH’s mission to eliminate poverty housing in our community.

In the words of HYP co-founder and AHFH board member Luke Ellis, “Austin Habitat and HYP members should be proud of this incredible achievement. Their support for affordable housing in Central Texas will positively impact the Verdin family and serves as a model for Habitat affiliates around the country to follow."

Who: Habitat Young Professionals (HYP), Sponsors Acton MBA, Samsung, and the Verdin family
What: Wall Raising, First-Ever Fully-Sponsored HYP Habitat House
When: Saturday, June 21 @ 8:30 a.m.
Where: 4502 Acers, Austin’s Colony (directions Below)

Lead Gala Sponsors: Acton MBA and Samsung

Directions to 4502 Acers, 78725
Take FM969 (MLK) East from Hwy 183 South. MLK becomes FM969 when it crosses Hwy 183. Go about 7 miles and turn right at the traffic light onto Hunter’s Bend Road. Turn left onto Plain View Drive. Follow Plain View Drive as it bears to the right. Turn left onto Macario and left onto Acers.

*Address not on mapquest. For a map, see the intersection of Hunter’s Bend Road and Plain View Drive, 78725.

CONTACT: Michael Kellerman | Dir, External Relations | 512.472.8788 x 408 | [ email ]