Cargill, Staley family sponsor first LEED Habitat for Humanity home in Hopkins

Partnership exemplifies best of philanthropy in tough economic times

(MINNEAPOLIS – Sept. 25, 2009) - Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity broke ground this month on the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Habitat for Humanity home to be built in Hopkins, Minn. The organization is hosting a kick-off celebration at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, at 146 Harrison Avenue in Hopkins.

This will mark the second LEED certified Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity home sponsored by Cargill. The home is located near Cargill’s Excelsior Crossings campus, which houses a seven-story, 250,000-square-foot LEED certified business center.

Cargill has been a house sponsor of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for 16 years, and has steadily increased the level of its philanthropic giving over time, with substantial increases the past three years in response to the floundering economy. “We recognize our continued success depends on the growth and health of our communities and partners,” said Greg Page, Cargill chairman and chief executive officer. “Habitat for Humanity is an important part of our commitment to invest in communities where we live and work.”

“These unprecedented times demand that we are innovative in our approach to serving the community. We must meet the rising demand for affordable housing and continue to improve the energy efficiency of the homes we build, all the while maximizing our finite resources,” said Susan Haigh, president and chief executive officer of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. “We couldn’t achieve this without valuable partners like Cargill and the Staley family, who have not only weathered these tough economic times with us, but have been quick to say, ‘how else can we help?’”

The event highlights a unique philanthropic partnership that evolved between Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s corporate sponsor, Cargill and major individual donors, Warren and Mary Lynn Staley.

Earlier this year, retired Cargill chief executive officer Warren Staley and his wife, Mary Lynn, joined the company’s annual house sponsorship by contributing funds to meet the gaps for this and future projects. “As a board member, Mary Lynn is fully aware of the critical and immediate need for affordable housing in the Twin Cities and she’s very committed to bringing in new funding during this time of crisis,” said Warren Staley. “We are pleased Cargill has matched our family’s contribution and is supportive of an organization that is very important to us and our community.”

Speakers for the kick-off celebration include Yusuf Wazirzada, Cargill BiOH Polyols; future homebuyers Amina Dualle and Abdihakim Mohamed Kahiya; Susan Haigh, president and CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity; Warren Staley, retired CEO of Cargill and his wife Mary Lynn, board member of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

--###--

Editor’s Notes:
In addition to seeking LEED certification, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity will seek ENERGY STAR qualification for the Hopkins house. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is the largest nonprofit builder, and the fourth largest builder overall of ENERGY STAR labeled homes in Minnesota.

Products and building techniques will be chosen with the following criteria in mind:
• Utilize products and techniques that are volunteer-friendly to implement or install.
• Select products that prove affordable and energy efficient in the long-run.
• Ensure that products and systems are easy to maintain for the future homeowner
To find out more information about Twin Cities Habitat’s green building practices, visit www.habitatbuildsgreen.org.

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. For more information, visit www.tchabitat.org.

About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 159,000 people in 68 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.