Media Release for the week of July 17, 2009 – July 24, 2009

BIKERS PEDAL TO END POVERTY HOUSING
Bikers from all around the country will be pedaling into Provo on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 to help Habitat for Humanity of Utah County renovate a historic home for a local family in need of safe and affordable housing. The riders will be at the home, located at 558 East 300 South, volunteering from 9-5 that day. The bikers are part of the national Bike to Build program and are riding their bikes across the country to raise funding and awareness to end poverty housing. The 32 young adults started their long journey in Charleston, South Carolina in May and will log over 4,000 miles before they reach their destination of Santa Cruz, California in mid- August. They will be staying at the Provo Community Church while in Provo. Bike & Build was founded in 2002. Beginning with two trips in the summer of 2003; Bike & Build has added a trip every year with the support and initiative of a dedicated and passionate base of alumni. Bike & Build aims to continue expanding nationally and to empower a diverse and motivated participant base while directing increased funding and support to grassroots affordable housing efforts. This summer Bike & Build will support seven cross-country trips with over 210 participants in an effort to raise over $420,000 for affordable housing projects. To date over 550 participants have cycled cross-country with Bike & Build, collectively raising over $1.1 million dollars. In addition, Bike & Build has worked with thousands of Americans to spread awareness about the affordable housing cause.

WASH ME! HABITAT TO HOLD FREE CAR WASHHabitat for Humanity of Utah County will be holding a free car wash to promote its new Cars for Homes program on Saturday, July 25, 2009. The car wash will be held at the ReStore Home Improvement Outlet, located at 626 North Freedom Blvd., Provo. Community members can stop by between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., have their car washed, and learn about Habitat’s vehicle donation program and other recycling programs. Donations are welcome.

EMPOWER FAMILIES! HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be holding its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Utah Valley University’s new Alumni House, located at 519 West 1200 South in Orem. Habitat families, staff, volunteers, supporters, and other interested community members are invited to attend. Come celebrate the affiliate's successes this past fiscal year and learn about its new theme for the upcoming year. Refreshments will be served.

Habitat for Humanity of Utah County is a non-profit, ecumenical organization and is one of more than 2,300 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International. The local affiliate is committed to eliminating poverty housing and homelessness in the county by building or renovating simple, decent homes with area residents in need of affordable shelter. Affiliated in 1991 by a group of local community members that were concerned about substandard housing in the county, the organization has built or renovated 36 homes providing more than 57 adults and 120 children safe and affordable housing and a stable home environment. The affiliate is currently building a home in Spanish Fork and working on its Brimhall Estates rehabilitation/infill project in Provo. For more information, please call (801) 344-8527 or look online at www.habitatuc.org.