Habitat Announces Successful Completion of Five-Year Strategic Growth Campaign.

AMERICUS, Ga. -- The board of directors of Habitat for Humanity International announced the results of a five-year strategic growth and development campaign that ended December 31, 2005. As a result of the campaign, Habitat for Humanity built 100,000 homes between 2000 and 2005, effectively doubling the building capacity of the organization's first 25 years; and raised more than the campaign's stated $500 million goal.

"The More Than Houses campaign is a milestone for us," said Nic Retsinas, chair of the organization's international board of directors. "While it was clear that Habitat was helping many people, the board knew that the organization could amplify the scale of its work through the visibility, opportunities and goals of the More Than Houses campaign."

The organization reached its house-building goal in August 2005 when it completed its 200,000th home in Knoxville, Tenn., and then minutes later completed its 200,001st home in Kanyakumari, India.

Over the course of the campaign, Habitat sought to raise $500 million to accomplish its goals. As of December 31, 2005, the campaign had raised more than $593 million.

"We have exceeded our goals, acquired new friends and donors and accelerated the mission to build simple, decent homes," said Jack Kemp, board member and chair of the More Than Houses campaign. "We know that setting and achieving goals is important and adds to our integrity and the mission."

In addition to reaching its goals, the More Than Houses campaign helped Habitat accelerate the pace of house building worldwide, increased the amount of funds transferred by HFHI to its affiliates, introduced Habitat to new countries and developed additional affiliates in existing countries.

"The campaign's ambitious goals helped break new ground in our resource development efforts," said Jonathan Reckford, Habitat's chief executive officer. It has created a sustainable approach to fundraising and provided us with a well-tested road map for future planning efforts."

While Habitat's traditional grassroots fund-raising efforts remained vital to the organization's success, the More Than Houses campaign was an effort to solicit new donors and corporate partners to help extend the reach of the organization's mission.

"More than Houses has greatly advanced our ability to serve more families around the world," said Reckford. "Without the resources from the campaign, we would never have been able to expand this ministry as quickly."

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Georgia, 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.