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Newsroom
Rebuilding Begins in New Orleans East Neighborhood Financial Professionals From Around the World Come to New Orleans to Build Habitat for Humanity Homes
Park Ridge, Ill. – November 6, 2006 – The MDRT Foundation, along with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, contributed to the construction of six homes in the New Orleans East Neighborhood October 23, 2007. Construction of the homes marked the rebuilding of the New Orleans East Neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the area.
The MDRT Foundation is the charitable arm of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. A total of 45 volunteers, including MDRT members from New Orleans, Canada and South Africa, along with local members of the Louisiana Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors worked on six homes. During the build, financial professionals installed sub-flooring, put up siding, built roofs and painted, among other tasks. Each volunteer also paid his or her own expenses for the trip to New Orleans. “The MDRT Foundation was established in 1959 to provide MDRT members with a means to give back to their communities,” said 2007 MDRT Foundation President Mark S. Jones of Houston, Texas. “This build is MDRT’s way of giving back to a community that has gone through so much, and we hope these homes will bring happiness and peace of mind to the families for generations to come.”
In response to Hurricane Katrina, the MDRT Foundation established the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The fund raised $575,000 from MDRT members, industry associations and companies. Habitat for Humanity received $300,000 of the Fund, with $100,000 of the donation to go specifically towards sponsoring the construction of these new homes. “When you see the horrible destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina to people’s homes, it breaks your heart,” said Millard J. Grauer, CLU, ChFC, a 79-year old member and volunteer from Northbrook, Ill. “But to know that someone who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina will now have a roof over their head thanks to our hard work, everything we did to build those homes was truly worth it.” At the Friday, Oct. 27th, dedication ceremony at one of the homes built by MDRT members, Abeni Bloodworth of Habitat for Humanity International, presented Jones with a gold hammer to thank the MDRT Foundation for their hard work and support. “These new homes will make a positive difference in the lives of many,” Bloodworth said. “We are truly grateful to the MDRT Foundation and the volunteers for making this dream a reality for New Orleans’ families.” The Habitat for Humanity build is not the first time MDRT members have volunteered their time and talent and to help the city of New Orleans. In June 2005, New Orleans hosted MDRT’s Annual Meeting with more than 9,000 people attending. As thanks to the city for hosting MDRT’s 2005 meeting, member volunteers built a 5,000 square-foot playground at Trinity Christian Community Center. This gift from MDRT still stands today, as the playground survived Hurricane Katrina unharmed.
ABOUT MDRT AND THE MDRT FOUNDATION The MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 to provide Round Table members with a means to give back to their communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated in excess of $15.3 million to more than 1,500 worthy charities around the world. The majority of these funds were raised by MDRT members from MDRT members. Some of the organizations that have benefited from MDRT Foundation grants are: Make-a-Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the American Paralysis Association. The MDRT Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Million Dollar Round Table, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Founded in 1927, MDRT is an international, independent association of more than 35,000, or less than 1 percent, of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals. With membership from 77 nations and territories, MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. ABOUT NEW ORLEANS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. NOAHH builds new houses in partnership with sponsors, volunteers, communities, and homeowner families to eliminate poverty housing in the New Orleans area while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. In the coming years, NOAHH plans to build 1,500 homes in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes. To learn more visit www.habitat-nola.org.
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