NEWS RELEASE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
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Students across the country have an opportunity to help local families become Habitat homeowners, thanks to the Meaning of Home contest, a national writing contest in support of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Launching today, the Meaning of Home contest asks students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 to share what home means to them.
In the last 12 years, over 50,000 students have shared what homes have meant to them. Thanks to their inspiring words, and Genworth Canada’s generous support, the Meaning of Home contest has raised over $1 million to build homes across Canada for families in need of decent and affordable housing.
Locally, there have been runners up in 2015, 2016 and 2017 in both Wasaga Beach and Collingwood. The grants those students won went to help Habitat South Georgian Bay build homes in both of those communities to help local families and their children.
Three grand prize winners, one for each grade, will have the opportunity to direct a grant of $25,000 to a local Habitat for Humanity. Nine runners up will receive a grant of $5,000 to the Habitat build of their choice. For every contest entry, a donation of $10 will be made to that student’s local Habitat, ensuring every student can help build Habitat homes in their community.
Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay are asking for the support of families, educators and care providers with children in grades 4, 5 and 6 in South Georgian Bay to encourage children to participate. By taking part, children learn about the importance of home and the challenges that many families in our region face. Every entry also raises much needed funds to help Habitat provide families with stability through affordable homeownership.
“As a father and grandfather, I believe in the value of getting children involved in the community and teaching them even though they are young, they have the power to effect positive change,” said Mark Rodgers, Habitat for Humanity Canada President and CEO. “We need to empower youth to know that they can change this world for the better.”
The Meaning of Home contest is open to all Grades 4, 5 and 6 students across Canada. Submissions will be accepted online between Jan. 7 and Feb. 18, and winners will be announced in April. More information on how to enter, as well as details on prizing, can be found here.
“As a founding sponsor of the Meaning of Home contest, we have seen its positive impact grow year after year” says Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Genworth Canada. “By encouraging students to become more engaged, we are teaching them to become more compassionate community members, all while educating them on the need for more affordable housing in Canada. We are proud supporters of Habitat for Humanity and this contest, which is helping to raise awareness about affordable housing concerns amongst our future leaders.”
Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay
Established in 2002, Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay partners with the community, corporate donors, individuals and volunteers to build simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with local low-income families. Habitat for Humanity is founded on the belief that decent, affordable housing is a basic human right. We partner with low-income families who:
- Currently live in substandard housing
- Are willing to volunteer 500 hours of “sweat equity”
- Will repay a zero-down payment, interest-free mortgage
When you make a donation to Habitat South Georgian Bay, every dollar of your gift goes directly towards building homes with families in need. Profits from our ReStore, who sell quality new and used donated building materials and other products, covers 100% of our administrative costs.
Habitat for Humanity Canada
Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat homeowners and 54 local Habitats working in every province and territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which was established in 1976 and has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. For more information, click here.
Genworth Canada
Genworth MI Canada Inc. (TSX: MIC) through its subsidiary, Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada ("Genworth Canada"), is the largest private residential mortgage insurer in Canada. The Company provides mortgage default insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders, making homeownership more accessible to first-time homebuyers. Genworth Canada differentiates itself through customer service excellence, innovative processing technology and a robust risk management framework. For more than two decades, Genworth Canada has supported the housing market by providing thought leadership and a focus on the safety and soundness of the mortgage finance system. As of Sept. 30, 2018, Genworth Canada had $7.0 billion total assets and $4.0 billion total shareholders' equity. Find out more here.
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