Girl Scouts from Troop 186 Partner with CMHFH for Tool Drive

St. Cloud Girl Scouts Gillian Williams and Hannah Fletcher (and their moms Kathy and Denise) partnered with Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity this Spring for a tool drive.

Tools were collected at local retail stores and will be used in CMHFH's home construction as we build homes with local families in need.

The girls earned their bronze badges by completing this project and also helped out their community. In addition, they made a cash contribution to further support our ministry.

We are so grateful to these wonderful community partners. Thank you Girl Scouts!

12 Families Graduate from Homeowner Education Classes

On Monday, 12 selected Habitat Partner Families graduated from their homeowner education classes. Families are required as a part of their partnership with CMHFH to take classes on a wide range of topics designed to help them succeed at new homeowners.

Topics include home repair, budgeting, will planning, and, as seen to the right, gardening and lawn care. Local experts from the police department, fire department, insurance companies, and the UofM Extension Services (and many more) volunteered to teach the classes.

CMHFH is so grateful for the participation of these local community leaders in preparing families for their homeownership journey. These classes are a vital component of the success of our ministry and these families.

Congratulations to all of the new Homeowner Education graduates! We look forward to partnering with them and with the community to help move them into simple, decent, affordable homes in the coming years.

Dijital Majik donates computers to CMHFH

Big, warm thanks to Dijital Don and the people at Dijital Majik for donating several refurbbed computers to CMHFH. Their gift will help us to accomodate the many volunteers and interns we have in our office each day.



We are so grateful for this wonderful donation. Check out Dijital Majik by clicking their logo!

CMHFH Named Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year by the Initiative Foundation

Dear Friend of Habitat for Humanity,

We have exciting news! Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity was awarded the 2009 Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award by the Initiative Foundation! We were recognized for our dedication to eliminating poverty housing and strengthening the Central Minnesota community through providing affordable housing options to families in need.

We accepted the award at a wonderful ceremony on April 17th, organized by the Initiative Foundation. It was a star-studded evening as we shared the podium with some very special people and organizations working hard in Central Minnesota.

What an amazing night! Current and former Board Members, staff, community partners and volunteers gathered to celebrate our progress. Even better, the Miller family (owners of the 2008 Green Build Home) joined us to share in the celebration and to tell over 500 people in attendance how Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity has already changed their lives for the better!

We have you-our friends, volunteers and supporters--to thank for our success in serving families in Central Minnesota! I encourage you to take a little time to check out the video about our award or read the IQ magazine article. Then, sit back and give yourself a pat on the back for helping make it all happen! We look forward to continuing this important work with you at our side.


With Deepest Gratitude,

Dick Bitzan
Former Board President
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity

Minnesota Legislature Recognizes and Celebrates the Life of Millard Fuller, Habitat Founder

Senator Amy Koch and Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer introduced a resolution this month to recognize the life and achievements of Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity.

Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International in 1976 with a goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide. To date, affiliates like Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity have built over 300,000 homes around the world and housed over 1.5 million people.

Fuller passed away in February of this year, and this resolution acknowledges his incredible and important legacy. In 2007, he visited Central Minnesota and attended a ceremony at our Elk River home. CMHFH is dedicating our Big Lake Build Project to his memory, to be started this summer.

To read the resolution, please click here.

Donovan Lakes/Waters Edge Project In St. Cloud Officially Begun

On Monday, March 30 Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity held a ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the official beginning of our 4-home project at Donovan Lakes. These homes were bought in foreclosure and will be finished by CMHFH to create affordable homeownership options for local families in need.

Three of the families that will be moving into the homes in the next two years were present at the ribbon cutting as well as St. Cloud HRA president, Bruce Thielman, CMHFH Executive Director, Bruce Johnson, and representatives of the CMHFH Board, staff, volunteers, and families.

We are excited to have the opportunity to strengthen our community by taking forclosed properties off the market and turning them into lifelong homes for local families. If you would like to be involved by volunteering on this project or have questions about how to become a CMHFH homeowner, contact Laurie at (320) 656-8890 x3.

Big Lake Habitat Project Kicked-Off!

March 30, 2009

A family in the Big Lake area moved one step closer to moving into a safe, decent, affordable home of their own Saturday. That was the day of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity Big Lake Project Kick-Off at Saron Lutheran Church in Big Lake. The project is part of part of a national home-building alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International.

The opening ceremony featured the Big Lake Ambassadors, Mayor Laurie Kampa and State Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer along with representatives from Thrivent Financial and Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. Korrin, a Habitat homeowner, shared her inspiring story of the transformational power her home has had in her life.

Following the Kick-Off ceremony, there were games and face-painting for the kids as well as a coloring contest. Local musician, Joel Hagberg, entertained the crowd, and food and refreshments were sold to raise funds for the project.

Volunteers are still welcome to get involved in this exciting new project in Big Lake. For more information on volunteering, call our office at (320) 656-8890 x3. We look forward to working together to eliminating poverty housing in Central Minnesota.

First Ever Big Lake Habitat Home to be Dedicated to Millard Fuller, Habitat Founder

March 16, 2009

A national home-building alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International will help build a new home in Big Lake this year. "We are really excited to be working with the citizens of Big Lake to build the first Habitat for Humanity home in this community," said Bruce Johnson, Executive Director of Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. "This partnership will help a family move out of substandard housing into safe, decent and affordable housing."

The project began with a special sign raising event on Friday, March 13 at 4 PM on the site of the new home located at 180 Monroe St., just east of Saron Lutheran Church. Mayor Laurie Kampa was on hand along with other members of the City Council and Big Lake Police Chief Sean Rifenberick to lead the program. Pastor Steve Ganskow-Wold of Saron Lutheran Church did a ground-blessing. Local children raised the sign. Hot chocolate and cookies were available for the participants, provided by Coborn's.

"We're delighted to dedicate this project to the memory of Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, who passed away a few weeks ago," noted Jean Eveslage, Project Community Coordinator and Consumer Lending Officer at Riverwood Bank in Big Lake, which financed the land acquisition. "What better way to begin a new partnership serving a family in our community than to honor the man who helped get it all started."

Anyone interested in helping with the project should call Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity at 320-656-8890 ext. 3, or sign up by clicking on the "Volunteer Up" button at www.cmhfh.org.

This future home in Big Lake is part of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance that brings together thousands of volunteers and financial support from Thrivent Financial. This year in Minnesota, 34 homes will be built by 18 affiliates at a cost of over $5 million. Thrivent Financial provides 65% of that funding--over $3.2 million.

Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the death of Millard Fuller

February 3, 2009

Dear Habitat for Humanity partners,

Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the death of Millard Fuller, the visionary whose ideas and tireless work created Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Fuller led Habitat from its founding in 1976 until his separation from the organization and his founding of the Fuller Center for Housing in 2005. He died early today, Feb. 3, following a brief illness. He was 74.

"Millard Fuller was a force of nature who turned a simple idea into an international organization that has helped more than 300,000 families move from deplorable housing into simple, decent homes they helped build and can afford to buy and live in," said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. "The entire Habitat family mourns the loss of our founder, a true giant in the affordable housing movement. Our prayers are with the entire Fuller family."


Read more at Habitat for Humanity International.