St. Paul, Minn. (July 28, 2009) – On Thursday, July 30, volunteers from the KARE 11 morning news team, Valspar and the City of St. Paul will join together to work on the 1,000th home completed by A Brush with Kindness (ABWK), a program started by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH).
“We are so excited to be celebrating this incredible milestone for A Brush with Kindness. Over the years, this program enabled us to broaden our community impact to include the preservation of existing homeownership. Today, A Brush with Kindness plays a critical role in rebuilding fragile neighborhoods by keeping people in their homes. We are so very grateful for the community of supporters, both public and private, that make our work possible,” said Susan Haigh, president and CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
ABWK is an outreach program designed to preserve homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by offering painting, landscaping and repair work to low-income homeowners who are struggling to maintain their homes. The program serves homeowners in the seven-county metro, with focused efforts in the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and suburban regions with aging housing stock. Habitat for Humanity volunteers from Valspar were the driving force in creating the ABWK program, which served its first homeowners in 1999.
“I think it’s a wonderful service for people like me living on social security,” said Melva Helgason, the first St. Paul homeowner who received assistance from ABWK, having her house and garage repainted. The program helped restore Helgason’s pride in her home and allowed the retiree to stay on top of maintenance while juggling other bills on a fixed income. Ten years later, at 92-years-old, she is still living in her home.
“One home can change a block, but a thousand homes can change the face of a city. This partnership with Valspar, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and the City has made a true impact in our historic communities and our residents’ lives,” St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said.
The program has been such a success in the Twin Cities that Habitat for Humanity International launched ABWK as a national program with 15 additional Habitat affiliates adopting the program in 2007. To date, over 50 Habitat affiliates nationwide have incorporated ABWK into their programming. The Valspar Foundation continues to support Habitat for Humanity locally and nationally through cash and in-kind donations.
“We believe these restoration projects are a natural tie-in to our products and our applications expertise,” said Gwen Leifeld, Manager, Valspar Foundation. “Habitat for Humanity is the perfect partner for Valspar's philanthropic focus. We are proud of this partnership and especially our involvement in the A Brush With Kindness program. This has been a remarkable experience and we are delighted to contribute to Habitat’s mission of serving families.”
Sandy Thompson was thrilled to learn that her house was selected to be the 1,000th ABWK home. Thompson was widowed two years ago, and laid off from her job last summer.
“I feel so blessed to receive this help. Everything has been so overwhelming since I lost my husband. I am trying to keep up and maintain my home by myself, but there’s a lot I don’t know how to do,” said Thompson. “I hope by sharing my story, not only will homeowners who are in similar circumstances see that help is out there, but others will see the importance of volunteering, donating and reaching out to others in need.”
“Sharing the stories of the great work being done in our community is something that KARE 11 has been proud to do for decades,” says John Remes, KARE 11 President & General Manager. “Today, the need for help in the community is reaching record levels and we’re happy to be involved.”
This summer KARE 11 launched a program called Hero Central to help people in need and highlight the work being done by everyday heroes in the community. “Joining forces with Habitat for Humanity and A Brush with Kindness is a great example of Hero Central at work,” Remes added.
A homecoming of sorts, the 1,000th home is located in east St. Paul, where ABWK served its first homeowners. The home is sponsored in part by Valspar, and the City of St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
The mission of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. An award-winning nonprofit housing developer, Twin Cities Habitat is committed to building the quality of life, health and economic prosperity of the region by producing, preserving and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities.
matt haugen : 6:31 AM on October 9, 2009
Becky Engen : 2:14 PM on July 8, 2014
