GM Foundation and teamGM Cares Volunteers Partner with Habitat North Central Georgia to Build Home for Family of Eight

The General Motors Foundation and teamGM Cares Volunteers from GM’s Atlanta IT Innovation Center partnered with Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia to build a new home for a local family of eight from Forsyth County.

On Saturday, September 19, the community came together to celebrate the completion of new home, built in partnership with Brian and Amanda McKinzie and their six children, ranging in age from one to 14 years. Brian has worked in the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years and his family’s new home is located on Leigh Lane in Forsyth County. This is the fifth home Habitat has built on this street.

“Habitat-North Central Georgia, as a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is extremely grateful to the GM Foundation for its financial support of this build,” stated Russ Hayes, Habitat-NCG’s Chief Executive Officer. “The GM employees worked side-by-side with the McKinzie family to build their home in just four months.”

The Forsyth County project is made possible by a $1 million grant from the GM Foundation to Habitat for Humanity International. The grant will fund nine home builds in the U.S., with the goal of assisting current and former military service members. Two additional grant-funded projects will take place in Brazil and Nepal.

“A permanent home not only provides stability for families but gives them a sense of belonging in a greater community,” said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard. “The GM Foundation is committed to supporting Habitat in providing shelter for deserving families like the McKinzie’s.”

Since 2013, the GM Foundation has donated more than $3 million to Habitat, which has touched the lives of 166 Habitat partner families and helped revitalize 30 neighborhoods across the country.

About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, the Environment and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia

Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for purchase by low-income families who demonstrate the capacity for responsible homeownership. Since its inception in 1995, Habitat-NCG has completed 274 homes serving an estimated 1,000 family members in the North Fulton area and Cherokee, Dawson and Forsyth Counties. Habitat-NCG does not give away its homes. Partner families, who earn 30% to 60% of the Atlanta area median income, purchase their homes at or near appraised value utilizing 30-year no-interest financing provided by Habitat. In addition, each partner family is required to attend educational classes and perform 200-300 hours of construction “sweat equity.” Family members work side by side with the volunteers, sponsors, and Habitat staff to build their homes. Habitat-NCG’s slogan is “A Hand Up, Not a Handout.” For more information concerning Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, please visit www.habitat-ncg.org.