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Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee Hits 3,000 House Milestone

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The 52 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Tennessee will celebrate the 3,000th house build with host affiliate Appalachia Habitat for Humanity. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at noon EDT at 249 Shirley Ford Road in Robbins, with a lunch to follow at Harrow Road Cafe in historic Rugby. Founded in 1978, Appalachia Habitat is not only the first affiliate in Tennessee, but the second Habitat affiliate in the world.

"We are extremely excited about this historic milestone," said Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee. "Building and selling these houses has had a positive impact on 3,000 families, and it has also added over $270 million to the tax base in Tennessee."

Wanda Brewster is very excited to have qualified and been selected as the 3,000th partner family. She is sixty years old and on disability. Wanda came to Appalachia Habitat for Humanity after being devastated when her mobile home of 25 years burned to the ground. She is very eager to begin her sweat equity and to own a new home.

"The Bible speaks of the importance of the body as a whole. The eyes need the ears - The hands need the feet - to be a whole body," said Sandy Spurling, executive director of Appalachia Habitat. "I relate the 3,000th Habitat build in Tennessee with this scripture. Without all 52 affiliates we could not have achieved this milestone. We are all stronger because of each other."

Sponsors of the 3,000th house build include Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Tennessee Employee Charity Campaign and GS&F.

About Appalachia Habitat for Humanity

Appalachia Habitat for Humanity is a Christian partnership whose goal is to restore pride and stability into the community by building and financing quality, affordable housing for all low-income persons in Scott and Morgan Counties, Tennessee.

About Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee

Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee (www.HabitatTN.org) is a statewide organization that supports the efforts of Tennessee's 52 Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving 61 counties who build over 200 houses a year. HFHT, as well as all Habitat affiliates operate under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity International, which since 1976, has built more than 300,000 homes in 101 countries.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee