Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity and DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Kick Off Largest Habitat Build in Nashville History
24 Janvier 2007 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Yvette T.
recalls a time in her life when she thought financial issues would
make becoming a homeowner impossible. She said, "All the odds were
against me. If it were not for this opportunity through Habitat, I
think we would always live in an apartment and never get out of the
cycle of poverty." Yvette T. represents one of 16 families whose
lives will be transformed by the largest Habitat for Humanity Build
in Nashville history. From 12:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on January 24
approximately 650 DaimlerChrysler Financial Services (DCFS)
employees will get a head start on that build. Employees will
construct wall panels for 16 new Habitat homes in the Ryman Exhibit
Hall at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The homes will be
completed in Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity's (NAHFH)
all-Habitat Providence Park community this spring. DCFS employees
scheduled the volunteer activity as part of their annual Field
Sales Conference in Nashville. "We are pleased to accommodate this
many people volunteering their time and energy to help build
affordable homes for families that otherwise would never have the
chance to obtain a conventional bank loan, much less purchase their
own home," said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of NAHFH. "We
very much appreciate this legion of volunteers supplied by
DaimlerChrysler Financial Services. It is dedication like this that
makes it possible for us to give a hand up, not a hand out, here at
Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity." Construction will take place
in a single afternoon on January 24. DCFS employees will spend more
than 3,000 man hours on building wall panels from 2' x 6' studs.
These wall frames will be used to build 16 new Habitat homes in
Phase III of Providence Park, a neighborhood of 140 Habitat homes,
which will be completed in 2007. "Habitat for Humanity helps people
to help themselves and to break the vicious cycle of poverty
through home ownership," said Klaus Entenmann, President and CEO of
DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC. "We are pleased to
partner with Habitat for Humanity to build on our commitment to
financial empowerment in our communities." DCFS employees will be
divided into teams, with each team working on one house. NAHFH will
bring all the materials necessary to construct the wall frames,
plus experienced volunteers to assist. The Gaylord Opryland Hotel
waived portions of the rental fee for the indoor space in support
of the Build. "We will provide the building materials, tools and
safety equipment necessary to construct the interior and exterior
walls," said Gary Bigelow, COO of NAHFH. "The experience will be
similar to the build site without concern for the weather." DCFS
representatives plan to return to Nashville and attend dedication
ceremonies for the families that are purchasing these homes. The
dedication ceremony will be held Sunday, April 29, 2007. "With the
help of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services we can finish the 140
Habitat homes in Providence Park in 2007," said McCarthy. "Then,
the neighborhood and community will be complete for everyone to
enjoy." DaimlerChrysler Financial Services has partnered with
Habitat for Humanity in communities across North America. In
December 2005, DCFS hosted "Country Cares," a concert in Detroit
with singers Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. The
event raised $500,000 for Habitat for Humanity to support victims
of Hurricane Katrina. Only one month later, more than 200 DCFS
senior and executive managers laid the foundation for 7 Habitat for
Humanity Homes in Mexico City as part of their Senior Leadership
Meeting. DCFS regularly schedules community volunteer activities as
part of its meeting and conference programs. About Nashville Area
Habitat for Humanity Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity (NAHFH) is
a non-profit, ecumenical Christian organization committed to
providing families with the life changing opportunity to purchase
decent, affordable homes. The agency consistently ranks in the top
1 percent of all Habitat affiliates and has quadrupled in size
since 2002. NAHFH built a record 50 homes in 2006 - 38 locally and
12 abroad. Prior to becoming homeowners, Habitat partner families
must complete up to 475 hours of "sweat equity" at the build site
and in the classroom to earn their homes. Mortgage payments at zero
percent interest range between $350 and $450 per month, including
taxes and insurance. NAHFH builds ENERGY STAR Certified energy
efficient homes. To request an application or to receive more
information about NAHFH, call 615-254-HOME or visit
http://www.habitatnashville.org/. About DaimlerChrysler Financial
Services Americas LLC DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas
LLC provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers'
inventories and their retail consumers, and conducts business as
Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Financial. As DaimlerChrysler
Truck Financial, it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate
products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The
company serves as the headquarters for operations in the United
States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil and
Venezuela, and has approximately 5,600 employees who manage a
portfolio of more than $104 billion with nearly five million
contracts. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC is a
company of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group,
headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 39 countries
with an employee base exceeding 11,000 and a global portfolio of
approximately $144 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services is
one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide. For
more information on DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas
LLC, visit their Web site at
http://www.daimlerchryslerfinancialservices.com/na. DATASOURCE:
DaimlerChrysler Financial Services CONTACT: Ashley Webster of
Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, cell, +1-615-969-2373, or ; or
Stephan Koller of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services, cell,
+1-248-202-1707, or Web site:
http://www.daimlerchryslerfinancialservices.com/na
http://www.habitatnashville.org/
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