Habitat for Humanity Australia Wins Prestigious Prime Minister’s Award* * * *Community Business Partnership With PMI Honored
SYDNEY 20th October 2005: Habitat for Humanity Australia and PMI Mortgage Insurance (PMI) have been named national winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships 2005 in the medium business category.
The award recognises Habitat for Humanity’s ongoing and successful and expanding program to assist needy Australian families in realising their dreams of owning a simple decent home, through its partnership with PMI.
Recognition: Australian premier John Howard (left) with Habitat’s George Macdonald and PMI’s Ian Graham
This association, with the assistance of local communities, has helped house six Australian families since 2001, as part of a plan which will see a further six families in Habitat for Humanity homes by the end of 2006. Habitat for Humanity received the prize of A10,000 which will be contributed to its ongoing Australian program.
Australia’s Prime Minister, John Howard, presented the award to Habitat for Humanity and PMI.
The national award confirms Habitat for Humanity’s growing community achievements, after winning the NSW Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships 2004.
Habitat for Humanity’s Chief Executive Officer George Macdonald said, “We are honoured that our efforts to address poverty housing in Australia have been recognised. This award recognises not only the extraordinary commitment of PMI, but also Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers and affiliates around Australia—not to mention Habitat for Humanity’s staff. It is a true community partnership in every sense of the word.”
The partnership is a great example of hands on philanthropy. Not only does PMI provide seed finance but large numbers of its employees volunteer to assist with the construction of Habitat for Humanity houses. Since the partnership began, PMI and its employees have provided over 200 days of team support on-site.
PMI Chief Executive Officer, Ian Graham receiving the award said, “On behalf of all our people at PMI, I am delighted to accept this prestigious award, which recognises our efforts in working together with Habitat for Humanity over the past five years and our ongoing commitment to the future.”
“Our relationship with Habitat continues to strengthen and has become an integral part of PMI’s culture, which focuses strongly on facilitating home ownership for Australians,” Graham said.