Habitat for Humanity Gets $100M Gift

[Are_grits_groceries]

The housing market may be sputtering, but Habitat for Humanity International is getting a $100 million gift from an Atlanta developer who said his work has offered him a look at the struggle of poor people to find decent housing.

The nonprofit group announced Thursday it received the largest individual contribution in its history, an offering that will help Habitat build 60,000 homes around the globe.

It's one of the largest gifts in recent years to a group devoted to social services, according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. A center official called it ''remarkable'' -- especially in the midst of a gloomy economy.

The donation comes from J. Ronald Terwilliger of Atlanta, a former chief executive of housing developer Trammell Crow Residential Co. and a longtime member of Habitat's board of directors.

Terwilliger said through his work with Habitat and in the private sector he's witnessed the depths of poverty, seeing people living in cardboard shacks and unspeakable filth, as well as the struggle for middle-class families to find affordable housing.

''People need a decent, safe, clean residence where they can get a good night's sleep and families can be together,'' he said. ''If they have that as an anchor, they have a way to send their kids off to school regularly and a better chance those children will be healthy.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/14/us/AP-US-Habitat-Gift.html

Great news! Good on ya Mr. Terwilliger! :toast:

[Spazito]

1. WOW! That is wonderful news!

I love Habitat for Humanity, they do wonderful work.

[Mudoria]

2. Thank you Mr.Terwilliger for your generosity and compassion.

[Libertyfirst]

3. Now that is my kind of multimillionaire. n/t

[Ocracoker16]

4. I wish there were more rich people like Mr. Terwilliger

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/14/us/AP-US-Hab..

"He also hopes his contribution will send a message to other philanthropists to step up their giving despite the troubled economy.

''My attitude is, for those of us who are fortunate enough to have made enough money that we don't feel we have to leave it all to our family, then we ought to give it back.''

I commend Mr. Terwilliger for his genorosity and his understanding that someone who makes more than they need should in his words "give it back"

[lpbk2713]

5. Limbaugh's gonna be pissed!

... and I'm glad.


:rofl: :rofl:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. That is teh awesome!

[Fleshdancer]

7. J. Ronald Terwilliger, you are incredible.

:applause:

[nichomachus]

8. Terwilliger has donated hundreds of thousands

To every GOP crook on the planet. He has also given an incredible amount to a group called The Loose Group which funnels soft money to GOP stalwarts like Saxby Chambliss, Newt Gingrich, and their ilk.

In other words, he has supported the very people who made sure there were plenty of people living in poverty.

So, excuse me if I pass on the champagne toast . . . .


:thumbsdown:

[Raskolnik]

9. So...does that change the fact that this is a very charitable act that will

help many people immensely?

[nichomachus]

10. No -- it's a lot like when the Mafia don gives a lot of money to the church

It helps the church -- as long as you're able to close your eyes to the source of the money.

All I'm saying is -- I'm glad HFH got the money -- and Terwilliger still is scum. There are people here drinking (iconically) toasts to him. I'll pass.

How about if Dick Cheney gave $100 million to a free clinic to help all the people without adequate health care?

[Raskolnik]

13. Are you saying that this man earned his money illegally and/or unethically?

Because unless that's the case, your Mafia don analogy doesn't really fit. As far as I can tell, you take issue with the *other* things this man chooses to do with his money. Logically, shouldn't you be happy that he's going to have significantly less of that money to donate to Republicans?

[nichomachus]

15. No one amasses that much money by dealing honestly with everyone

especially employees. No one.

[Raskolnik]

16. I see. n/t

[Robb]

11. And to think he used to be a member here

:yoiks:












:D

[Scurrilous]

12. Good news!

K & R :thumbsup:

[malaise]

14. Bravo!!!

We need some happy news.