Thousands of students help improve communities over spring break with Habitat for Humanity

ATLANTA (Feb. 9, 2012) —More than 9,700 college- and high school-aged students will volunteer over their spring break to help build or rehabilitate homes through Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge alternative break program.

“We recognize that these students could have done a number of things during their spring break, and we are grateful for their support to help families obtain affordable housing,” said Patrick Corvington, Habitat’s senior vice president of volunteer and institutional engagement. “The work these students will do during their spring break will have a lasting impact in communities across the country.”

Nationwide, 166 Habitat affiliates will host 426 spring break groups. In total, the groups will donate more than 1.3 million to Habitat for Humanity projects.

Over the past 23 years, approximately 194,000 students have spent their school breaks volunteering through Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program, donating more than 20 million to Habitat affiliates.

Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage youth ages 5 to 25 in Habitat’s work. Since 2007, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

About State Farm
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 66,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.