Helena Area Habitat for Humanity and
AAA Dedicate First Home in Partnership
January 20, 2009 - (Helena, MT) - Helena Area Habitat for Humanity (HAHFH) and AAA will once again join forces at the dedication of the third Prickly Pear Condominium on January 25 at 12:00 p.m. During the dedication, HAHFH construction supervisor Ross Meyer will present Kim Rodgers and her two children, Holden and Vanessa, the keys to their home AAA helped to build through nearly 1,000 volunteer hours from 45 of their employees.
AAA also provided a low interest loan in the amount of $200,000 to help build two residences, both located at the Prickly Pear Condominiums. HAHFH and AAA, along with partner family William and Diane Massey, will break ground for the fourth and last of the Prickly Pear Condominiums in March. AAA will also sponsor the Massey home through funding and a volunteer labor work force.
AAA participated in HAHFH’s Team Building Program, allowing employees to volunteer during paid work time. The program gives employees the opportunity to volunteer for a worthwhile cause, provides an environment to build office relationships, boosts morale and allows for a change of pace from the daily routine of office work.
“Volunteering for Habitat was a great experience. I was very impressed at how patient all the volunteer leaders were with us novices,” said Jeanne M. Brainard, a AAA MountainWest employee. “They taught us how to mud drywall, hang siding, backfill and frame a house - skills I never would have learned if not for Habitat.”
Since 1992, HAHFH has built 28 decent and affordable homes in partnership with income-challenged families in the Helena area. Various organizations, such as AAA, and individual volunteers make the construction of Habitat homes possible, creating goodwill and public awareness for both HAHFH and those who sponsor their endeavors.
Present at the dedication will be HAHFH staff and volunteers, AAA staff and their employees who assisted with building the Rodgers home. Jim Twardos, President/CEO of AAA MountainWest, will speak on behalf of AAA.
“AAA employees proved there is strength in numbers. I was extremely proud of how much we accomplished by joining forces and donating a little of our time. We helped create a home for the Rodgers family, giving them a solid foundation on which to grow and succeed,” said Jim Twardos, President/CEO of AAA MountainWest. “Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, AAA was able to improve the community where we live, work and play.”
Mark Larum of The Landmark Company will present an original painting by Celeste Sotola to the Rodgers family. HAHFH will serve refreshments for all those attending the dedication.
AAA MountainWest Club is dedicated to providing its over 160,000 members in Alaska, Montana and Wyoming with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services. A fully taxpaying, not for profit corporation, AAA MountainWest, Inc. works for the improvement of motoring and traveling conditions and is a leader for travel, civic and safety issues. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com. To have up-to-date news and safety information from AAA delivered right to your desktop, sign-up for the new RSS Feed at http://aca.aaa.com/exts/email/?club=066#rss
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