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Financial Professionals from Around the World Volunteer and Build Two Habitat for Humanity Homes in the New Orleans East Neighborhood

 

What:

The MDRT Foundation will work with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to help build two homes in the New Orleans East Neighborhood

Who:

  • The MDRT Foundation is the charitable arm of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the Premier Association of Financial Professionals.
  • The MDRT Foundation has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world.
  • Volunteers will work shoulder to shoulder, and 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 will be building the home.

Where:

The exact addresses of the homes being built in the New Orleans East Neighborhood are:

  • 4512 Dale Street
  • 4653 Dale Street

Why:

  • 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. $300,000 of the Fund was given to Habitat, with $100,000 of the donation to go specifically towards sponsoring the construction of these new homes.
  • New Orleans hosted MDRT's 2005 Annual Meeting June 26–29 at the Ernest N. Moral Convention Center. More than 9,000 people attended the meeting and in May of 2005, 35 MDRT member volunteers built a 5,000 square-foot bright and colorful playground in Hollygrove at Trinity Christian Community Center in New Orleans as a thanks to the city for hosting the 2005 MDRT Annual Meeting. The playground survived Hurricane Katrina unharmed.

Interview Opportunities

MDRT Foundation President Mark S. Jones will be available for interviews on Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27, 2006. Additionally, Jim Pate, Executive Director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity will be available for interviews. Video footage of the build as well as photos will be available to the media upon request.

Contact

For more information on the volunteers, or to request an interview, photos or video footage, please contact Jessica Butera (MDRT) 847-692-6378, Lauren Tolan (MDRT) 847-668-3913 (cell phone on site) or Aleis Tusa (New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity) 504-861-2077 or 504-251-5710 cell.

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 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 and excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

About New Orleans 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.

 

Read about the Foundation's grant programs.