Atlanta, October 22, 2010 – More than 300 student leaders from across the country will attend Habitat for Humanity International’s annual youth leadership conference, Oct. 22-24. The conference is made up of attendees who volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in their local communities.
Sessions will be held on a variety of topics to aid in the students’ efforts to address the need for affordable housing, including advocacy, leadership, sustainable building, grant writing and fundraising. Students also will share best practices with each other.
“The conference provides an opportunity for Habitat’s student volunteers to exchange ideas and to hear from workshop presenters,” said Cody Logsdon, manager of Habitat for Humanity International’s youth programs department. “We are grateful for the dedication and the service of our youth volunteers.”
Habitat encourages youth leaders to help engage student volunteers, ages 5 to 25, in Habitat’s work to eliminate poverty housing. Many are involved in Habitat’s campus chapters, Collegiate Challenge and Youth United groups. Last year, more than 500 Habitat campus chapters raised nearly $1.2 million for their local Habitat affiliates. In addition, Habitat’s Youth United groups raised $884,700 and sponsored more than 24 houses. More than 14,000 high school and college students participated in Collegiate Challenge, an alternative school break program where students can build with a Habitat affiliate during their summer, fall, winter or spring breaks.
Several of Habitat’s youth groups will be recognized for their work during a celebration dinner hosted by Habitat and State Farm®, the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity International’s youth programs and underwriter of the 2010 Youth Leadership Conference.
The conference is taking place at Renaissance hotel in downtown Columbus. To learn more about the conference or Habitat’s youth programs, visit habitat.org/youthprograms.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org
Kimberly Lust, State Farm Public Affairs at (740) 364-5484
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
