Bank volunteers assist Bend, Redmond Habitat

Three families in Bend and one in Redmond are being given a helping hand, thanks to a partnership between Wells Fargo and local affiliates of the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity organization.

Wells Fargo donated $45,000 to Habitat for Humanity in Bend and $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity in Redmond. The grants from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation are in support of the volunteer hours worked by Wells Fargo employees for the Habitat affiliates.

Habitat for Humanity uses mostly volunteer labor to build affordable homes. The agency sells the homes to low-income buyers with zero-interest mortgages. Wells Fargo has given $319,200 to 13 Habitat affiliates in Oregon this year to support their efforts.

“Wells Fargo continues to be a great partner by providing financial support as well as volunteer help on our home projects,” said Scott Brown, director of Redmond Habitat for Humanity.

“In addition to helping families achieve the American dream of homeownership, this support has an economic impact on our community,” added Robin Cooper Engle, community outreach manager at Bend Habitat for Humanity.

“Each time we build a home we are providing direct and indirect economic benefit through paying system development charges, fees, wages to subcontractors like electricians and plumbers,” said Cooper Engle. “And our families pay property taxes once they acquire the homes. There is also tremendous research that shows that homeownership improves civic engagement, better educational outcomes, and healthier citizens.”

Wells Fargo team members across the nation volunteer thousands of hours every year for Habitat. They raise walls, make interior improvements, paint, landscape and perform a variety of other construction duties at build sites around the region.

“We do everything we can to help our communities succeed financially,” said James Weber, Wells Fargo’s Community Banking district manager in Bend. “That includes supporting great nonprofit groups like Habitat that provide much needed services to our local residents in need.”

About Habitat for Humanity in Bend

Bend Area Habitat is in its 24th year of building affordable housing, and is ranked one of the 100 Best Green Companies to work for in Oregon. It also provides home repair and weatherization services to low income individuals and families. Bend Area Habitat serves the Bend and Crook County communities. For more information: http://www.bendhabitat.org/.

About Habitat for Humanity in Redmond

Redmond Habitat for Humanity became an affiliate in 1999 and is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to providing simple, decent, affordable housing to qualifying low-income families in the Redmond area so that they can improve both their lives and the community in which they share. Its philosophy is that the economically disadvantaged need capital, not charity, and co-workers, not caseworkers, in order to obtain a simple decent home in a decent community. For more information: http://www.redmondhfh.org/ .

About Wells Fargo & Company

Serving Oregonians since 1852, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) was named the most generous bank in Oregon and America this year. The nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company has $1.4 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores; 12,000 ATMS; and the Internet (wellsfargo.com). Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at blog.wellsfargo.com.