More than 148,000 Pounds of Aluminum Cans Recycled by Habitat for Humanity Affiliates

Washington— A little friendly competition recently produced big results for Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country. Last June, a $5,000 incentive grant was awarded to each of 15 Habitat affiliates to grow their Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes programs during a competition period of July - December 2002. During this period, the top 5 of the 15 Habitat for Humanity affiliates raised $49,619.48 in funds for their programs by recycling aluminum cans.

The top 5 affiliates increased local recycling efforts by 625 percent during the allotted timeframe of 2002. The pounds recycled by the 5 affiliates increased from 20,454 pounds during July - December of 2001, to 148,395 pounds during the same period of 2002.

While they were actively recycling, the 15 Habitat affiliates were further motivated by a $50,000 grant for the affiliate with the largest increase in pounds recycled per capita. The winning affiliate was Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, (Grand Island, Nebraska) which raised a total of $61,671 for Habitat. This affiliate recycled more than 46,400 pounds of cans to earn $11,671 that, when added to their $50,000 grant, is more than enough money to build a new home in their community.

The Aluminum Association was so impressed with the affiliates' efforts that it awarded an additional $40,000 grant to the runner-up, Webster Habitat for Humanity in Springhill, Louisiana. The grant award means that Webster HFH will also be able to build a new home for a family in Webster parish. Including their $40,000 grant, the affiliate raised a total of $45,304.06 for recycling 18,924 pounds of cans. This house will appropriately be named, "The House that Cans Built".

Additionally, the third, fourth, and fifth place affiliates received grants that matched (50 cents on the dollar) dollars they raised through recycling during the grant period. These five grants total $106,322.50. Including the fifteen $5,000 grants awarded in June, The Aluminum Association has awarded a total of $181,322.50 in recycling grants to Habitat affiliates for their efforts in 2002.