Press Release

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Developments Honored with "Award of Excellence" Awards

Southern California Gas Company recognizes Habitat OC homes for energy efficiency

Santa Ana, CA, February 23, 2009 -

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County was honored with three "Award of Excellence" plaques from the Southern California Gas Company for building energy efficient homes featuring built in comfort, quality, and energy savings. Habitat OC homes achieve 15 percent above the California standard in energy efficiency.

"We are proud to provide energy efficient homes for Habitat OC families who will save money for their homes and lives," says Mark Korando, Senior Vice President, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

The three "Award of Excellence" plaques were presented to the developments in Anaheim, Fullerton and the Habitat for Heroes and Foundations for Families development in San Juan Capistrano.

Southern California Gas Company's "Award of Excellence" awards were given on February 11, 2009.

Southern California Gas Company, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, is based in San Diego. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is located in Santa Ana.

About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County

Celebrating 20 years of changing lives and changing communities in Orange County. 130 houses built in Orange County
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County. Habitat uses non-government donations of funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified low-income families for a 1% down payment, closing costs, and a zero-interest mortgage. Mortgage payments are recycled to build more Habitat homes. Habitat families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the program by building their own home, helping another Habitat family build a home, or working in some other area of the Habitat organization. Habitat for Humanity families and volunteers have built 130 homes in Orange County since 1988, and are currently building eight homes in San Juan Capistrano.

27 homes to be built in San Juan Capistrano
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s Habitat for Heroes and Foundations for Families™ development of 27 homes at the end of Calle Rolando will be built in phases.  Framing for the first four homes began on July 2, 2008.  The second four homes were framed on October 3, 2008.  Funding for the land on which these homes are being built was donated by the City of San Juan Capistrano Redevelopment Agency.  Funds for building these homes have been generously donated by The HTN Foundation; Bank of America; the Orange County Realtors Partnership, which consists of the Orange County Association of REALTORS®, Laguna Board of REALTORS®, and Newport Beach Association of REALTORS®; an anonymous donor;  the Steve Tisch Foundation; Toshiba America Business Solutions; the Presbyterian Partnership; St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point; Hyundai Motor America; the Van Cleve Foundation; and more than a thousand other local donors.

300,000 houses built worldwide
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat International has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. Habitat for Humanity International is currently the 16th largest homebuilder in the United States, according to Builder OnLine magazine.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, please call (714) 434-6200 extension 229 or visit our Web site at habitatoc.org.

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