FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newmarket, ON, May 24, 2011

Habitat for Humanity York Region (Habitat York) was honoured at last week’s Habitat Canada National Conference and AGM in Vancouver  with the 2010 Green Build Award.  This award was open to all 72 affiliates across Canada through a detailed application process.  The application evaluates and recognizes the Affiliate who has reached the highest energy efficiency building standard for its’ province and that has incorporated sustainable practices that reduce environmental impacts during construction and occupancy. 

The award was specifically based on Habitat York’s LEED-certified™ Platinum build at 262A Terrace Drive in Keswick, which is the first LEED™ platinum Habitat build in Canada. Habitat York is very proud of our commitment to build environmentally responsible homes for our Partner families.  As part of our commitment to "building green", Habitat York has adopted the LEED Green Building Rating System™ which encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices.  Each home must meet a minimum of 19 mandatory measures in areas of energy efficiency, environmental considerations, sustainability and quality.  As a result of our commitment to high quality, affordable, green building practices, we have a decreased impact on our natural resources and positive health benefits through reduced pollutants into the atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 164.4 kg/year.  Therefore, not only providing a healthier home for our Partner families but providing a healthier community for all families.  By constructing LEED™ certified homes, we will ensure that each family has the most energy efficient home possible and as a result, less of their income will be directed to electricity, heating and cooling costs.  

Our first award-winning LEED™ home project, would not be possible without the support of all of our generous donors, sponsors and dedicated volunteers.  Special recognition to the Build Team Leadership for their outstanding efforts on this national award.  A special thank you to: Construction Manager Kari Salovaara, Volunteer Project Team Leader Ray Ashby and Build Manager Laurie Sinclair for their outstanding work on our inaugural LEED™ project for York Region.   

 About Habitat for Humanity York Region: 

Habitat York builds simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with the community and with the families who will own them.  All homes are built almost completely by volunteers using building materials, land and money donated by individuals, businesses, and various community groups.

 Families purchase their home from Habitat and make monthly payments on their no-interest mortgages over a period of 20 to 30 years.  In addition, families are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ by volunteering to help build their own home, other Habitat homes or helping us in other ways.  The Habitat approach provides families with a hand up, not a hand out.  Habitat York is currently embarking on a $5.6 million fundraising campaign to build affordable, sustainable green homes for York Region families.

 Habitat for Humanity York Region is an affiliate of Habitat Canada since 2001, with our first home dedicated in 2002. Since then Habitat York has completed a total of 11 homes in York Region and 3 homes internationally.  We recently completed our first LEED-certified™ build in Keswick, Ontario. To learn more or donate to Habitat York please visit our Web site at www.habitatyork.ca, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatforHumanityYorkRegion  or Twitter at www.twitter.com/HabitatYork .

 About Habitat for Humanity Canada:               

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year, HFHC’s 72 affiliates nationwide have provided almost 1,800 Canadian families with safe, decent and affordable housing. HFHC is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which has built,

rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing shelter for more than 2 million people since it was founded in 1976. For more information on HFHC, please visit www.habitat.ca.

 For more information contact:

Nancy Van Kessel

Executive Director

Phone: 905-868-8722/866-638-7242 x25

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newmarket, ON, May 4, 2011

York Region student, Devon MacPherson has a mission.  Her goal is to find out more about the charities in her community and how they work.  As a result, Devon created the Giving for 31 campaign.  Over 31 days in May, Devon’s goal is to work with 31 different charities in the Greater Toronto area in order to raise awareness about each charity and their role in our communities. 

On May 9^th, 2011, Devon will be coming to Habitat for Humanity York Region’s Vaughan ReStore at 405 Rowntree Dairy Road from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.  As a Habitat volunteer, Devon will have the chance to learn more about Habitat’s role in providing affordable home ownership opportunities as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty and how the ReStore supports the Habitat affordable home ownership program and the local environment by providing low-cost new and used home and building supplies to the community.

Please join us at 10:00 am at the Vaughan ReStore at 405 Rowntree Dairy Road to find out more about Devon and Giving for 31 and how her message is making a difference for families in York Region.

To celebrate Devon’s spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism, Habitat for Humanity York Region ReStores will be offering all customers 31% off of any purchase at ReStore locations in Newmarket and Vaughan on May 9, 2011.

About Devon MacPherson and Giving for 31: 

Devon MacPherson is a 2^nd year university student majoring in psychology and sociology.  She has always been passionate about helping others and makes it her upmost priority to become involved in charitable activities as often as possible.  Her previous charitable and volunteer contributions include founding Stuffed with Strength in support of Sick Kids hospital, patient visiting at a local hospital, being actively involved in the CIBC Run for the Cure, and even creating a fundraiser called Paws with a Cause in elementary school in support of the OSPCA!

When not living at school Devon lives with her dad Bryan, her mother Lorna, her brother Jeff, and her Jack Russell Zoey.  She is an avid horseback rider and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and her family.

To find out more about Devon’s Giving for 31 campaign, please visit her Web site and Blog at www.givingfor31.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

About Habitat for Humanity York Region: 

Habitat York builds simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with the community and with the families who will own them.  All homes are built almost completely by volunteers using building materials, land and money donated by individuals, businesses, and various community groups.

Families purchase their home from Habitat and make monthly payments on their no-interest mortgages over a period of 20 to 30 years.  In addition, families are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ by volunteering to help build their own home, other Habitat homes or helping us in other ways.  The Habitat approach provides families with a hand up, not a hand out.  Habitat York is currently embarking on a $5.6 million fundraising campaign to build affordable, sustainable green homes for York Region families.

Habitat for Humanity York Region is an affiliate of Habitat Canada since 2001, with our first home dedicated in 2002. Since then Habitat York has completed a total of 10 homes in York Region and 3 homes internationally, and is currently engaged in its eleventh project; the initiation of its’ first LEED-certified build in Keswick, Ontario. To learn more or donate to Habitat York please visit our Web site at www.habitatyork.ca, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatforHumanityYorkRegion  or Twitter at www.twitter.com/HabitatYork .

About Habitat for Humanity Canada:                

Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985, consists of over 30,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International which spans 93 countries, has built over 225,000 homes, and is now building a new home every 21 minutes. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity Canada, please visit the Web site: www.habitat.ca

For more information contact:

Katherine Alyea, CFRE

Director of  Development

449 Eagle Street, Newmarket, ON L3Y 1K7

(T) 905.868.8722/866-638-7242 ext 26

(E) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MEDIA ADVISORY

HABITAT YORK’S SUMMER SOCIAL GALA PRESENTED BY ROYAL GROUP

TO RAISE FUNDS FOR YORK REGION FAMILIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newmarket, ON, April 18, 2011

Habitat for Humanity York Region will be holding its annual Summer Social cocktail fundraiser at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection’s Grand Hall in Kleinburg on June 15^th, 2011 at 6:30 pm.  In addition to the reception, we will be holding an auction and raffle and have a special private gallery viewing for our supporters. 

This event is being presented by the Royal Group, Inc., the Canadian-based  Building Materials Division of Georgia Gulf Corporation (NYSE: GGC), as part of their ongoing support of Habitat for Humanity York Region’s $5.6 million Building Homes, Creating Communities, Transforming Lives Home Building Campaign.  York Region is experiencing a housing crisis – over 6,139 households were on the waiting list for social housing units. Reaching this campaign milestone will provide further affordable housing for 22 families throughout York Region.  With the support of our community, through events like this, we will be able to make a difference in our efforts to break the cycle of poverty by providing affordable, sustainable green home ownership opportunities for our local-area families in York Region and Bradford West Gwillimbury.    

Royal Group, Inc. has been supportive of the mission of Habitat for Humanity as part of their commitment and investment in our local community.  Their dedicated employees, sponsorship and donation of quality building products is making a difference in the lives of York Region families.  Habitat York is proud to partner with Royal Group, Inc. in our mission to help more families achieve their dream of homeownership.

To demonstrate our thanks to all of our very generous sponsors, donors an guests, we would like to invite the media for a photo opportunity on Wednesday June 15^th at 7:00 pm.

Habitat York is extremely grateful for the financial and volunteer support of the Royal Group, Inc. as well as other sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers in making our Habitat Families’ dreams come true. 

When:  Wednesday June 15^th at 6:30 pm

Where:  The beautiful McMichael Canadian Art Collection in historic Kleinburg

10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, ON L0J 1C0

Dress:  Summer Cocktail

Cost:  $75 per person

(Sponsorship opportunities available starting at $2,500)

RSVP: Please contact Katherine Alyea, CFRE, Director of Development at 905-868-8722 x26 by Friday June 3rd, 2011.

Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis.

About Royal Group:

Royal Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Georgia Gulf Corporation (NYSE: GGC), was founded in 1970 in Woodbridge, Ontario. Over the last 40 years, the company has expanded to become a leading North American manufacturer of quality, low-maintenance, sustainable building materials. The company’s commitment to product innovation, quality and customer relationships has served to attract a growing number of homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors to its products. With operations located throughout North America, Royal Group, Inc. offers the renovation, remodeling and new construction industries a broad range of innovative products, including siding, deck, fence and rail, trim and mouldings, pipe and fittings, and window and door profiles.  Royal Group’s main campus is located in Woodbridge, Ontario.  Many of the 900 people employed at the Woodbridge campus live in Vaughan.  For more information, please visit www.royalbuilding products.com.

About Habitat York:

Habitat York builds simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with the community and with the families who will own them.  All homes are built almost completely by volunteers using building materials, land and money donated by individuals, businesses, and various community groups.

Families purchase their home from Habitat and make monthly payments on their no-interest mortgages over a period of 20 to 30 years.  In addition, families are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ by volunteering to help build their own home, other Habitat homes or helping us in other ways.  The Habitat approach provides families with a hand up, not a hand out.  Habitat York is currently embarking on a $5.6 million fundraising campaign to build affordable, sustainable green homes for York Region families.

Habitat for Humanity York Region is an affiliate of Habitat Canada since 2001, with our first home dedicated in 2002. Since then Habitat York has completed a total of 11 homes in York Region and 3 homes internationally.  We most recently complete our first LEED™-certified build in Keswick, Ontario. To learn more or donate to Habitat York please visit our website at www.habitatyork.ca

About Habitat for Humanity Canada:               

Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985, consists of over 30,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International which spans 93 countries, has built over 225,000 homes, and is now building a new home every 21 minutes. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity Canada, please visit the website: www.habitat.ca

For more information contact:

Katherine Alyea, CFRE, Director of  Development

(T) 905.868.8722/866-638-7242 ext 26

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.habitatyork.ca