Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity and Wescom Credit Union to Begin Building a Home at the L.A. County Fair; Wall-Raising Ceremony to Launch Project; More Than 300 Wescom Employees Volunteer to Help Build Home for Low-Income Family.

PASADENA, Calif. -- The Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity (HFH) and Wescom Credit Union will celebrate the start of their extensive home building project at the L.A. County Fair on Friday, September 8, at 1:00 p.m. Representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Wescom Credit Union, the L.A. County Fair and local dignitaries will be present to help raise the first wall of the home, which is being built for a local low-income family. This is the first time that HFH will build a home on the grounds of the L.A. County Fair.

As title sponsor of the project, Wescom Credit Union will have more than 300 employee volunteers working on construction of the home during the Fair. In addition to the volunteers, Wescom is also contributing the cost of the building materials. The 1,200-square-foot home is being built for a family of five who will also assist in the construction of the home. Following the close of the Fair on October 1, the home will be moved to its permanent location in Chino for final work.

The HFH project is a visible example of Wescom's commitment to affordable housing. Through the years, the Credit Union has provided access to financial services and programs that help households of modest means become first-time home buyers. Wescom also participates in a number of affordable-housing initiatives, including the Home Loan Payment Relief program.

The Chino home will be the 35th such effort conducted by the Pomona Valley-HFH. The organization is part of the internationally renowned Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 200,000 homes worldwide since its founding in 1976.

DATE:    Friday, September 8, 2006
TIME:    1:00 p.m.
PLACE:   L.A. County Fair at Fairplex near the Clock Tower

Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity (HFH) helps provide decent, safe and affordable housing for low-income residents in West Inland Empire and East San Gabriel Valley to promote a healthy neighborhood environment for community residents. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in La Verne, California, Pomona Valley HFH has partnered with 34 families with 28 completed homes throughout the communities of Chino, La Verne, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and six home projects in progress in Claremont. Pomona Valley HFH is part of the internationally renowned Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 200,000 homes worldwide since its founding in 1976.

Wescom Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the country, with more than $3.5 billion in assets. It is a not-for-profit, financial services cooperative serving 280,000 members at 43 branches throughout Southern California. Credit Union members have access to more than 20,000 free ATMs nationwide and a wide range of financial services, including free checking and free online bill paying. Membership is open to people living and working in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ventura counties. Wescom was established in 1934 as a credit union for telecommunications employees.