Millcreek Valley Habitat for Humanity

Contributed By Susan Bennett

Note: Craig has been our Thrivent partner the last year. ed.
Craig Holocher, MBA, FIC, of Colerain Township is traveling to Guatemala this week to build homes with families in need thanks to an alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Holocher, a financial consultant serving Lutherans and their family members in the Cincinnati/Northern KY metro area, was selected to represent his colleagues from the organization’s Indiana Region of Thrivent Financial. In order to qualify for this honor, Holocher demonstrated outstanding sales performance and an interest in volunteering with Thrivent Financial members. “We are proud to have Craig representing us on this trip to Central America,” said Tom Dobberstein, managing partner of the Indiana region of Thrivent Financial. “He is dedicated to service to others and I know this experience will energize him to share the plight of substandard housing and the impact made by the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program with colleagues, members and others in the Lutheran community.”

This special team of more than 30 Thrivent Financial representatives is spending eight days, Sept. 8-16, working with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala in the city of Panajachal, building homes with the local community. This is the only Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip specifically honoring Thrivent Financial representatives, but it is just one of more than 100 Thrivent Builds Worldwide trips taking place in 2007. All Thrivent Builds Worldwide trips give participants a unique opportunity to become active partners with people of other cultures. Team members work alongside members of a Habitat for Humanity host community, raising awareness of the burden of poverty housing and building decent, affordable homes worldwide.

While each Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip is different, all include work, rest and free time. Teams spend a few days touring local historic sites and attractions or participating in outdoor recreational activities. Typical trips last one to three weeks and cost an average of $100 per day. Cost includes room and board, in-country transportation, traveler’s medical insurance and a donation to the host community’s building program. Airfare is an additional cost.

To encourage its members to participate, Thrivent Financial and some of its subsidiaries offer $800 toward trip costs for benefit members and owners of Thrivent mutual fund and Thrivent Life Insurance Company products. The organization also donates $6,500 to the host Habitat affiliate to spark future homebuilding projects if at least 50% of trip participants are Thrivent Financial members.

Thrivent Builds Worldwide is part of the broader alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, its members and Habitat for Humanity International called “Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.” To learn more, visit www.thriventbuilds.com/worldwide.