In partnership with Habitat for Humanity International, Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it is kicking off its House + Home World Tour, during which the company will provide more than $6 million in funding and energy-efficient home appliances to Habitat affiliates across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Poland, the UK and the Latin America region in support of new home construction, repair and rehab projects.
“The four walls around us have the power to unlock immense opportunity,” said Jeff Noel, vice president, Whirlpool Corporation. “We are thrilled to be working with Habitat for Humanity, a partner of ours for more than 20 years, to help make a real, positive difference in homeowners’ lives around the world so they may unlock their full potential.”
Whirlpool’s Jeff Noel
As part of the House + Home World Tour, Whirlpool is sponsoring three Habitat global housing forums. The forums bring together a spectrum of thought leaders and experts to spur innovation that helps meet the housing needs of the planet’s growing population, while also addressing challenges related to increasing severe weather events and changing climate norms. The first forum was held in the Latin America and Caribbean region in May, with subsequent forums to be held in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and the Asia-Pacific region in November and December, respectively.
Additionally, the two organizations kicked off the BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative in June, which expands upon Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help homeowners mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through the initiative, Habitat will build more than 250 climate-resilient and energy-efficient homes in partnership with hundreds of Americans in need of affordable housing over the next three years.
In the United States, the House + Home World Tour will kick off with a new home build in partnership with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County during the University’s homecoming weekend (Oct 15-16). The home, which is one of the first to be built as part of the BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative, will be outfitted with solar panels, high-efficiency heating and cooling and water-conserving plumbing fixtures. This will be one of Whirlpool Corporation’s first home builds since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic tarries, the need for safe, stable and affordable housing cannot be overstated. Through our expanded partnership with Whirlpool Corporation, we’ll be able to provide hundreds of families in 11 countries and regions with access to this basic and fundamental need,” said Adrienne Goolsby, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada at Habitat for Humanity International. “We’re grateful for Whirlpool Corporation’s financial and humanitarian commitment to help us build a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
Whirlpool Corporation has supported Habitat for Humanity’s work to build affordable homes and communities with families in need of a decent place to live since 1999, donating nearly $130 million to Habitat and supporting programs in 45 countries.
As part of these efforts, the company has also donated and installed approximately 207,000 ranges and refrigerators in new Habitat for Humanity homes in the U.S. and Canada serving more than 108,900 families; sponsored more than 190 homes; donated products to 76,000 Habitat families in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and engaged thousands of employee volunteers in Habitat builds alongside future homeowners.
