Actress Emily Bergl, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's Challenge Women to Build Affordable Housing

Volunteers across U.S. build with low-income families during National Women Build Week

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Apr 28, 2011, 09:00 ET

ATLANTA, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading up to Mother's Day, construction crews of volunteers will join Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's Heroes to help build more than 250 houses in partnership with families across the country. The construction of these homes is part of Habitat's fourth annual National Women Build Week, April 30 – May 8, sponsored by Lowe's.

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Actress Emily Bergl, star of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and TNT's "Southland," is building with volunteers in Charlotte where Habitat is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first house built by all-women volunteers.

"I get such a sense of accomplishment helping to build in communities with families who will own these homes," said Bergl, who has previously built with Habitat in the United States and Thailand. "I absolutely encourage other women to become involved in building with Habitat."

National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to help build affordable housing in communities. Underwritten by Lowe's, Habitat's Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable housing.

Lowe's has committed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week by providing $5,000 grants to 250 participating Habitat affiliates. This build is a major initiative of Lowe's five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. That commitment includes underwriting of Habitat's Women Build program, as well as providing construction know-how at in-store clinics and build sites, and funding for a variety of Habitat projects across the country.

"Lowe's has been the proud sponsor of Habitat's Women Build program since 2004. This innovative program encourages women from all walks of life to pick up their hammers and build homes alongside Habitat partner families," said Larry D. Stone, Lowe's president and COO and chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Lowe's salutes the thousands of women who've volunteered on Habitat job sites during the past 20 years and for years to come."

"National Women Build Week has become one of our most exciting annual projects," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Hundreds of women all across the country come together to learn new skills, share their expertise, provide encouragement and build relationships while working alongside families in need of decent shelter. We are grateful to all the volunteers and the organizers, to Emily Bergl, and especially to Lowe's for helping families realize their dreams."

For more information on Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program, and to learn about Women Build projects in communities across the U.S., visit Habitat.org/wb.

About Lowe's

Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education, has brought more than $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2005. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity International and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/socialresponsibility.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than two million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International