The Sarpy County Habitat for Humanity affiliate and the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Nebraska Region are joining a national $21.7-million house-building effort to construct more than 300 affordable homes; $706,020 will go toward building 12 homes in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney.

Omaha, NE (Jan. 30, 2006) – The Sarpy County Habitat for Humanity affiliate and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Nebraska Region are partnering two building two homes in Sarpy County as part of a nationwide effort to create additional homeownership opportunities with economically disadvantaged families.

Locally, volunteers will be needed to help build at two designated Thrivent Builds sites in Bellevue. The Sarpy County Habitat for Humanity affiliate has qualified for a total of $153,423 with the understanding that members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be involved.

“This is a very exciting partnership for me personally and for Habitat,” said Margaret Stamp executive director of the Sarpy County Habitat for Humanity affiliate. “Because of Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity funding, we will be able to build five more homes this year. That’s five more families in simple, decent, affordable housing this year alone.”

Nationally, Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are building up to 312 homes in 2006. The homes will be in addition to the more than 5,000 homes Habitat affiliates build annually in the United States and represent a six percent increase in Habitat home production.

The effort is part of a new alliance, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. The alliance makes Thrivent Financial Habitat’s largest single ally in its mission to eliminate substandard housing and rebuild communities.

The homes will be built in more than 200 communities in 43 states. This represents an estimated $21.7 million investment from Thrivent Financial in 2006 alone. During the four-year alliance, Thrivent Financial intends to invest a total of $105 million to increase annual house production by up to 500 U.S. homes per year and more around the world

Habitat affiliates across the nation were invited to apply for Thrivent Builds with Habitat funding. A total of 265 affiliates are receiving funding based on their ability to increase local building efforts and have been paired with nearly 400 Thrivent volunteer chapters (local volunteer groups of Thrivent Financial members). The homes will be built in large urban areas such as Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia, Miami and San Francisco, as well as communities such as Rochester, N.Y., Lima, Ohio, and Brookings, S.D.

In the Nebraska Region of Thrivent Financial, seven Thrivent volunteer chapters will help with fund-raising and homebuilding.

“We’re eager to step up our efforts to reduce substandard housing in Nebraska,” said Dennis Engelbart, Manager of Lutheran Community Services for Thrivent Financial in the Nebraska Region. “Our volunteers are ready to get started and are looking forward to working with others in their communities.”

Thrivent Builds with Habitat represents a unique alliance between two national nonprofit networks of 1,699 Habitat affiliates and 1,362 Thrivent volunteer chapters. In 2004, Thrivent chapters delivered more than 19 million volunteer hours of community service. The alliance combats the chronic national and worldwide problem of substandard housing. More than 13 million U.S. households use at least half of their income to pay for housing. Millions more live in overcrowded conditions or housing with severe physical deficiencies, such as having no hot water, electricity or toilet.

“We want to reach out and help even more families each year and this can only be done through innovative alliances,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is bringing not only its generous donation but also engaging its members and communities to volunteer time and raise funds for this effort.”

Reaching beyond the U.S., Thrivent Builds will take volunteers around the world to build with families in need, with the goal of eventually building up to 200 homes overseas per year. Additionally, Thrivent Builds will raise awareness about substandard and affordable housing issues through the one-of-a-kind Thrivent Builds Mobile. The mobile exhibit, housed in a 48-foot-long semi trailer truck, is crisscrossing the country to give visitors a powerful experience designed to educate and call communities to action.

“Thrivent Builds with Habitat is giving our nearly three million members and others a wonderful opportunity to not only raise roofs, but to raise hope as well with hundreds of families across the U.S.,” said Bruce Nicholson, Thrivent Financial chairman, president and CEO. “Thrivent Financial has a mission of service. This allows our members to support Habitat with both our financial and volunteer resources.”

For additional information, visit www.thriventbuilds.com to learn how to volunteer or donate.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than one million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping 2.8 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. As a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. Thrivent Financial has main offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Appleton, Wis. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

About the Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need in Sarpy County. Since 1994, Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County has worked with 14 families to build homes, and is currently building the 15th and 16th Sarpy Habitat homes. For more information, visit www.hfhsarpy.org.

About the Nebraska Region of Thrivent Financial
The Nebraska Regional Financial Office is made up of 65 financial representatives and provides financial products and services to more than 40,000 people in eastern and central Nebraska. Together with its members, Thrivent Financial’s Nebraska Region provided more than $11 million in charitable outreach in 2004. For more information, visit www.lutheransonline.com/rfo378.