Media Advisory - Habitat Toronto breaks ground on its 225th affordable home

TORONTO, June 2 /CNW/ - Hundreds of parents, children, volunteers, and donors will gather on Tuesday June 8th to break ground of the 225th affordable home built by Habitat for Humanity Toronto at its 4572 Kingston Road build site. This east-end development will provide 29 safe, decent and affordable townhomes for over 145 men, women, and children currently living in substandard housing in Toronto.

Hardworking families like the Garcias are excited to finally move from the poverty-stricken and dangerous surroundings in which they live. "A lot of crimes have happened here. Drug dealings happen around the corner from the playground," says future Habitat Toronto Homeowner Antonio Garcia of his current neighbourhood. "In our new Habitat Toronto home, my children will have their own separate rooms where they can study and have their own privacy. They will be proud of their new home and it will inspire them to be at their best."

This event will mark the fourth year in a row that The Home Depot Canada Foundation has joined Habitat Toronto as a Partner in Sustainability. Thanks to the Home Depot's unwavering partnership, Habitat for Humanity Toronto has built sustainable homes using the highest standards of green construction for families living in need. The Home Depot Canada Foundation and its Team Depot associates have donated hundreds of volunteer hours to the charity and continue to lead the way in corporate social responsibility - putting their hammers where their heart is. Other home sponsors for this site include Delta Chelsea, Great-West Life, HOK, McDonnell Haynes Advertising + Design and the Rotary Club of Scarborough. "We are truly grateful for all of the support that has helped us reach this milestone. Habitat Toronto is very excited to begin building our 225th home and continue working alongside our partners to build homes and changing the lives of families in our community," said Habitat for Humanity Toronto's CEO Neil Hetherington.

The 4572 Kingston Road development will also be the site for Habitat Toronto's ReTooling Blitz Build - a 6-day event to be held September 20th -25th, 2010 that will give 1,000 retirees or those approaching retirement from across North America the opportunity to give Toronto families a hand up, not a hand out.

    
    What:   4572 Kingston Road Groundbreaking

    When:   June 8th, 2010
            11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Where:  4572 Kingston Road Toronto, ON
            (Kingston Road & Morningside Avenue)

    Who:    Neil Hetherington, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Toronto
            Antonio Garcia, Habitat Toronto Homeowner
            Gino DiGioacchino, Chairman of the Board, the Home Depot Canada
            Foundation (keynote address)
    

Please visit www.torontohabitat.ca/AboutUs for more information on Habitat for Humanity Toronto.

For further information: Neil Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Toronto, office: [phone] ext 223, cell: [phone], [email protected], www.torontohabitat.on.ca; Joanna M. Dwyer, Marketing and Communications Associate, Habitat for Humanity Toronto, office:[phone], ext. 228, [email protected]