Habitat for Humanity and the New York Mets Slide into Home

Mar 27, 2017 11:00 AM ET
For Baylee and her family, home is the key to a brighter future. This April, Habitat for Humanity’s Home is the Key campaign will raise awareness and support of affordable housing so more families can unlock opportunities for stable lives.

ATLANTA, March 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Coming “home” will have a different meaning for the New York Mets as they kick off the baseball season on April 3. Habitat for Humanity will launch its first nationwide cause campaign, Home is the Key during the Mets home opener to raise awareness and support of the critical need for affordable housing in the country and around the world.

The campaign will gather sponsors, celebrities and community leaders for a month of activities and build events across the country. Consumers can help Habitat’s efforts by purchasing products from participating partners, sharing #HomeIsTheKey on social media, or donating at habitat.org.

“We all need decent shelter to thrive, and yet many in the U.S. live in inadequate housing conditions, creating a significant barrier to opportunity, success and health,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Home is the Key reminds us that home is more than just bricks and mortar. A home unlocks the opportunity for a better life and we hope people see that, by donating to Habitat, they’re opening the door to strength and stability for millions of families who need a hand up.”

Country music star Eric Paslay and HGTV personality Chip Wade have signed on to lend their support and raise awareness of the transformational impact a decent, affordable home can have on a family and community.

“As a designer, builder and contractor, home is such an important part of every aspect of my life,” said Wade. “My home is the source of my serenity, my security and my confidence to continue pursuing my passions – it’s truly the foundation of all of my success, professionally and personally. Everyone deserves the opportunity to unlock the bright future a decent, affordable place to live can provide, which is why I’m proud to support Habitat for Humanity.” 

Thanks to partners that have joined the campaign, numerous opportunities are available in April for the public to get involved or to help generate awareness of the need for affordable housing:

  • Nissan: For every #HomeIsTheKey social post, Nissan will donate $1 to Habitat, up to $250,000. Nissan and Habitat have partnered together for over a decade and have helped families all over the world build and own their home.
     
  • At Home Stores: The home décor superstore will sell special edition candles with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Habitat. Opportunities to donate at check-out will also be available.
     
  • BLACK+DECKER: Building on a 25-year local partnership with Habitat, BLACK+DECKER will use its social media channels to promote the campaign and drive awareness of the need for decent, affordable housing. 
     
  • Kum & Go Convenience Stores: Customers will have the opportunity to donate to Habitat at checkout. Continuing its annual in-store fundraising competition for the fourth year, Kum & Go will build a new Habitat home in the community that raises the most donations.
     
  • HSN Cares and Ballard Designs: Habitat will be the featured nonprofit partner for HSN and Ballard Designs in April. Shoppers can contribute throughout the month. HSN Cares is sponsoring and volunteering to build two homes in their hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, alongside two future Habitat homeowners. 
     
  • Sur La Table Stores: At-register or online donations will be available and a portion of the proceeds from sales of Scanpan cookware will benefit Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity (@habitat_org) will also have a #HomeIsTheKey Twitter party on Wednesday, April 5 from 2-3 pm EDT. Hosted by Amy Lupold Bair, blogger and founder of Resourceful Mommy Media, the chat will be an opportunity to show support for Habitat and enter to win prizes from campaign partners.

The campaign will culminate at the end of April in Habitat’s hometown of Atlanta with Nissan and the Heisman Trophy Trust for the 5th annual Heisman House Build.

To learn how to get involved with Home is the Key and more about the month-long activations, visit habitat.org/homeisthekey.

#          #          #

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org

Contacts:

Rowena Sara                                                  Whitney Jinks

Habitat for Humanity International                   Porter Novelli

404-979-3842                                                 404-995-4500

rsara@habitat.org                                           whitney.jinks@porternovelli.com